Chapter 211: The wind rises from Longxi

In the early spring of Jinling, this city located on the south bank of the Yangtze River seems prosperous and lively because it is Gao Chong's residence. For the people living here, life is simple and fulfilling. Students who seek official positions, farmers who return to farm, vendors who leave early, and brides who return home, unknowingly, time passes in peace.

This kind of life has become a little more comfortable, but less nervous.

Such a life is a luxury for the people of Jiangnan, but it is not the hope of Gao Chong himself.

Cao Cao in the north was like a constant pressure opponent, which made Gao Chong dare not relax a little. Both Northern Expeditions ended in vain, which made Gao Chong feel uneasy and made him realize that it would be impossible to gain anything without a strong level in the north. He was determined to do his best to govern the country and traveled all over the county, inspecting the people's conditions, discovering talents, and Anding County.

The changes between strength and weakness often occur in qualitative changes in subtle events. In a calm confrontation, the balance of strength is tilting bit by bit.

In May and June of the ninth year of Jian'an, a famine spread across Hebei and the two states broke out. Countless people fled their homes, and hungry bodies fell on the road without anyone burying them. The once rich and prosperous Hebei land suddenly became a desolate hell. This situation is not surprising. In order to raise the food and grass for the war between the two Huai Rivers, Cao Cao ignored the frequent wars in the Central Plains and ordered local officials at all levels to pay full food and grass within a time limit. This made the surplus food that the people originally hid were deprived of.

For the people who have no ability to resist, they have long been used to the situation where the government is like robbers and has no reason to argue. In the numbness of time and time, the foundation stone of the Han Dynasty finally collapsed.

In order to accumulate the power to confront Gao Chong, Cao Cao had no time to take into account the life and death of ordinary people. In the process of suppressing the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Cao Cao had already strengthened his belief that as long as he had the support of local powerful forces, his rule would be deeply rooted.

Therefore, although he appreciated the set of polite measures implemented by Gao Chong in the South, he did not intend to follow the examples. The military farming measures such as "officials, four privates, and six privates" can only make the untouchables develop lazy thoughts. Although the policy of opening a business channel is effective, it is probably not appropriate to hand over the salt farm that produces rich profits to private management.

Cao Cao, who was born in a family of eunuchs and powerful eunuchs, has many differences in experience, experience and feelings from Gao Chong, who was once a slave. Today, even if they have become equal opponents, their ideas still have many differences. This difference is like Cao Cao, who represented the local powerful forces and Yuan Shao, who represented the interests of the wealthy families of the gentry.

The wind that changes everything blows from the westernmost Longyou grassland, carrying a different breath.

This is October of the ninth year of Jian'an, which is the autumn in Longxi. It is the best season of the year. The wind blows wormwood and cattle and sheep appear low. Every year, the nomadic peoples here feed their war horses and prepare to go east and go deep into the Guanzhong area of ​​Yongzhou to rob them.

Xiping County, Liangzhou.

On the vast plateau, a cavalry was heading eastward, directing to Xiangwu, a big city in the eastern part of Longxi County.

The green Qiang costumes, inlaid with silver-white sharp daggers, a majestic horse about three years old, and a uniform cavalry formation, all signs show the invincible momentum of the team.

After more than two years of dormant, the young foal was already adult in Xiping when the army retreated, and the thin boy lying on his back also grew into mighty and brave men.

In front of this elite rider, the tall war horse was carrying Ma Chao in brocade costume. Compared with two years ago, Ma Chao's face became more mature and less impulsive.

Beside him, Zhao Yunyiru, with a handsome face, looked like before he came to Liangzhou. The cold and stinging north wind in the northwest seemed to have no effect on him. Under the silver armor, Zhao Yun's body was tall and tough, just like the bright silver spear that shone in his hand. If he didn't come out, he would be fatal.

Pang Tong, the deputy military advisor who was less than thirty years old, was much older than two years ago. The little frost on his temples and the fine wrinkles at the corners of his eyes showed that the dormant during this period made him exhausted enough.

"Military advisor, Zilong, and Han Sui's old thief was defeated repeatedly. He retreated to Jincheng and did not leave. You and I will not fight this time. They will attack Xiangwu City in Longxi County. After tracing his retreat, I don't believe that the old thief can still hold on." Ma Chao led his cavalry in front and laughed.

There is an old saying that goes: Three days after a scholar, you should look at each other with admiration. Now Ma Chao's strength is no longer the same as two years ago. During this period in Xiping, Ma Chao adopted Pang Tong's plan, while he was working with the Qiang leader, while actively expanding towards Guohuang, Zhangye and other counties west of Liangzhou.

Guo Huang and Zhangye are located in Hexi. After the Silk Road was opened, they were a major town along the way and their economy developed greatly. However, after the chaos in the Central Plains, with the abandonment of the Silk Road, the place also declined.

Although Han Sui, the leader of the Northwest Alliance, had expelled Ma Teng and Ma Chao's power two years ago, his strength was greatly reduced. Guo Huang and Zhang Ye were far away from Jincheng, and Han Sui was unable to match. After comprehensively analyzing the situation in Liangzhou, Pang Tong advised Ma Chao to occupy these two places first, and then wait for an opportunity to compete with Han Sui for the center of Liangzhou.

In the past six months, Ma Chao and Zhao Yun led their troops to sweep the counties in Liangzhou, Guzang, Zhang Ye, Guo Huang and other counties fell into the hands of the Zhaoma coalition army like wind and clouds. Seeing this, the leaders of the Qiang tribes who were originally waiting and watching also sent troops to help. By the autumn of the ninth year of Jian'an, more than 30,000 people had gathered under Ma Chao and Zhao Yun.

On the contrary, Han Sui was defeated step by step. He, who was known as "hiding the nine bells in his belly", showed off his tricks in front of Pang Tong, and all the tricks he used were discovered one by one. On the battlefield, facing Zhao Yun and Ma Chao's courage on the battlefield, Han Sui was even more defeated.

"Han Sui has become a dying insect. Even if he has thousands of tricks, Ling Ming cannot come up with any tricks. This time, our army launched Xiangwu, not only to deal with Han Sui, but also to wait for an opportunity to occupy Longxi and Tianshui in Yongzhou, and open up the road to Hanzhong south." Pang Tong said.

Ling Ming was named Pang De. While Ma Chao and Zhao Yun marched into Xiangwu, Pang De and Ma Dai were leading 10,000 elite soldiers from Qiang and Hu to surround Jin Cheng.

Xiangwu is the capital of Longxi County and a large city connecting Liang and Yong states. It is also the place where the Ma family started. Now it belongs to Wei Kang, the governor of Liangzhou, and there are more than 1,000 soldiers and horses stationed.

A year ago, Wei Duan died of illness. Because he made a lot of efforts during the encirclement and suppression of Ma Chao, Wei Kang was recommended by Jia Xu and Zhong Yao and took over as the governor of Liangzhou. Most of the territory that originally belonged to the Ma family was also under the name of Wei.

Unfortunately, such a happy life is too short for Wei Kang.

Jincheng Han Sui's defeat came one after another, and the rabbit died and the fox was sad. Although the original alliance was only driven by interests, Wei Kang also knew that once Ma Chao wiped out Han Sui, his next goal was himself.

"Report to the Lord, the horse thief attacked Xiangwu!" Before Wei Kang could come up with a way to defend the enemy, another unfavorable news came back.

"What should I do?" Wei Kang was so anxious that he was like an ant on a hot pan.

The resourceful Jia Xu was transferred back to Xudu by Cao Cao three months ago and promoted to Shangshu Ling. A month ago, the senior official of Bingzhou, Guo Yuan's remaining party caused chaos, and the Sili School Commander Zhong Yao led his troops to fight, and he had no time to take care of the troubles in Liangzhou.

"Sir, there is a way for soldiers to block the enemy, and the water comes and the soil is flooded. Chencang walls are high and deep, and the mountains and rivers are surrounded by water. It is easy to defend but difficult to attack. As long as we work together, even if there are thousands of horses and thousands of troops, what are you afraid of?" Seeing that Wei Kang was at a loss, Yang Fu advised him. Yang Fu's courtesy name is Yishan, and he was from Ji County, Tianshui County. He was very brave and brave. The Yang clan lived in Ji area for many years. In the seventh year of Jian'an, Wei Duan responded to the imperial edict of the imperial court. Yang Fu gathered thousands of clan soldiers to respond.

The reason why Yang Fu dared to boast about Haikou was because of Chen Cang's strong city defense. Chen Cang was located in the middle of the Wei River, 800 miles west of Qinchuan in Guanzhong. It was called Xiguo in ancient times. Guo Zhong, the younger brother of King Wen of Zhou, was once granted this place, so it was named Guo. During the reign of Qin Xiaogong, Xiguo was renamed Chencang County, and its jurisdiction area was twice that of ancient Xiguo. At the end of the Han Dynasty, Fufeng County, which was under the jurisdiction of one of the three auxiliary officials. In the second year of Xingping, the Xiliang tribes took advantage of the chaos in the Central Plains and raised troops to surround Chen Cang. From winter to spring, after more than 80 days, the city was held in a stable position, and it was unable to be eliminated. In the end, Qiang and Hu were exhausted and had to rescue and retreat. According to Yang Fu's calculations, although there were less than 3,000 elite soldiers in Chen Cang, there were many large households moved to the city due to war. If these clan soldiers of these powerful forces were recruited, thousands of new forces would be added out of thin air. After weighing the trade-offs, they were still quite sure to defend the city.

"Oh, that's all. Yishan has to worry about defending the city!" Wei Kang sighed.

Wei Kang, who was brave when he was in his first career, seemed to have become a different person in the past two years. His original youth was completely gone, and he was replaced by his old-fashioned and his selfish desire to gain and lose. It is no wonder that the Wei family now occupies Fufeng County, Tianshui County, and most of the Anding and Longyou areas of Liangzhou, as a local powerful family, has developed to this point.

On October 18, the ninth year of Jian'an, Ma Chao and Zhao Yun defeated Xiangwu and killed the county magistrate and county magistrate. More than 700 defenders surrendered.
Chapter completed!