Standalone Northern and Southern Dynasties

Chapter 350 Making Dumplings

Erzhu Rong entered Jiuyuan City and looked at the bound Wei Qingbin.

Wei Qingbin cursed at Erzhu Rong:
"Traitor! Erzhu is just a guard dog of our Wei. How dare they bite their master?"

Erzhu Rong was not angry. He said calmly:

"This general sent troops to Sizhou to support the country. What have you, the noble family of surname Jia, done for the Great Wei?"

Wei Qingbin wanted to continue scolding, but Erzhu Rong said:
"The so-called national surname is nothing more than relying on the legacy of our ancestors. If you can't even protect the country and the people, do you really think you are noble? Arrest him!"

Erzhu Rong raised his head and looked at the cursing Wei Qingbin. The governor of Sizhou, who was from a noble family with the surname Jia, cursed:
"Thief! Kill me if you dare!"

Erzhu Rong did not care about Wei Qingbin's shouting, but said to his men:

"Please ask Lord Wei to leave. You must take care of him as you would your own grandfather. Please make sure that Lord Wei lives until I clean up the court and rebuild the country!"

After Wei Qingbin was taken away, Erzhu Rong's confidant Xi Yi came over and said:

"My lord, the Wei family is one of the top eight families, and has been a noble family for generations. Even if they are captured, they should be treated well."

Erzhu Rong said disdainfully:
"What do you mean by a family with a long history? The so-called eight surnames were only set by Emperor Xiaowen twenty years ago. Before that, his Wei family was just one of the eight tribes of the Dai people, and they grazed together with our Erzhu family's ancestors."

When Erzhu Rong said this, he did not notice the change in Xi Yi's expression.

Xi Yi's mother was the daughter of the Erzhu family, but the Xi family was also one of the eight surnames determined by Emperor Xiaowen.

Xi Yi was originally proud of being from a noble family with the surname Jia. One of his important goals in joining Erzhu Rong was to restore his family.

However, when Xi Yi heard that Erzhu Rong looked down on the noble families, he naturally felt uncomfortable, but at this time he could only suppress his dissatisfaction in his heart.

Erzhu Rong was not a political maniac. After humiliating Wei Qingbin, he pulled Yao He, the deputy governor of Sizhou who had offered the city, into the city. He also cordially comforted the nobles and powerful people in the city and successfully swallowed up Sizhou.
-
Guanzhong, Huazhou.

Murong Shaozong's personal guards were sitting on the boat, looking at Murong Shaozong who was climbing on the mast and using his "clairvoyance" to spy on the enemy, and they all showed bitter expressions.

In April, Su Ze raised the banner of attacking Jingzhou and destroying Hu Chen. He personally took charge of the city of Yongle and led Murong Shaozong as the vanguard to attack Jingzhou from the front line of Pucheng.

After receiving the news, Hu Chen was greatly frightened. He built a fortress along the Jing River to firmly control this important waterway, and personally led his troops to confront Murong Shaozong.

In plain warfare, logistics always comes first.

River transportation is always the most time-saving and labor-saving option. After all, Hu Chen is also a military commander and he has his own methods when fighting.

In fact, Murong Shaozong himself knew very well that the attack on Jingzhou was just a feint to paralyze Mozhe Tiansheng, and the Pucheng front was just a performance to contain Hu Chen and attract the attention of Guanzhong.

Although it was a performance, it had to be performed realistically. Moreover, after the last battle of Pucheng, Hu Chen once again recruited an army in Jingzhou with more than 30,000 people, while Su Ze only gave Murong Shaozong 6,000 infantry and cavalry. The enemy was numerous and we were few, and we had to defend Pucheng and pretend that the main forces were in Pucheng. It was really not an easy task.

So after Murong Shaozong arrived in Pucheng, he specially ordered people to build a speedboat. He often took the speedboat to personally inquire about the military situation on the front line.

Somehow this matter reached the ears of General Su Ze, who sent an envoy to severely reprimand Murong Shaozong.

However, the commander-in-chief cannot be punished easily while he is away, as this will damage Murong Shaozong's prestige. Therefore, Su Ze reprimanded the personal guards around Murong Shaozong and strictly ordered them to keep a good look at Murong Shaozong, forbidding him to continue risky reconnaissance by boat, and also confiscated Murong Shaozong's speedboat.

However, Murong Shaozong still did not give up. He got another grain boat today, but promised not to get close to the enemy camp, and forced his personal guards out to investigate.

Fortunately, there was no danger today. Hu Chen was so frightened that he dared not leave the camp to fight. The scouts saw Murong Shaozong's ship but did not dare to chase after it.

When Murong Shaozong returned to the military camp, his guards begged:

"General Murong, the enemy camp is just ahead. If the general knows that you are investigating the enemy camp so closely, he will punish us."

Murong Shaozong said:

"How can a general command a battle if he cannot personally go to the front line to check the battlefield situation?"

"My military orders are worth the lives of thousands of soldiers. How can I not do my best?"

But seeing the expressions of the guards around him, Murong Shaozong knew that they were doing this for his own good, so he said:

"I won't do that next time. This general already has a plan to defeat the enemy!"

Defeat the enemy?

The confidants looked at each other in bewilderment. Wasn't General Su's order to you to defend Pucheng and tie down Hu Chen's forces?
How did it become defeating the enemy?
Murong Shaozong summoned his lieutenants and brigade commanders. He unfolded a detailed map, pointed to the river he had ventured to explore today, and said:

"We are stationed in Pucheng, which is too close to the enemy camp. Hu Chen will soon know the strength of the city, and then we will be passive."

The generals nodded one after another. Any general with a little experience could estimate the number of troops deployed. Hu Chen was no fool and would soon discover that there was something wrong with Pucheng's troops.

The enemy had 30,000 men, while our side had only 6,000, including 2,000 cavalrymen from the Murong tribe who were not good at defending the city. If Hu Chen was really determined to attack, it would be really difficult to defend Pucheng. And Su Ze also told Murong Shaozong before he went to the battle that the remaining soldiers in Yongle City were the last reserve force and could not be moved unless it was absolutely necessary.

Murong Shaozong had to defend Pucheng for three months and contain Hu Chen before Hou Jing took over Qinzhou, so as to prevent him from returning to rescue Mozhe Tiansheng.

In Su Ze's opinion, this was an arduous defensive task, but Murong Shaozong took it up decisively.

Murong Shaozong pointed at the map and said:

"This is where Hu Chen transports grain by land and water. He built a granary by the river. As long as we can break through this granary, Hu Chen will have to disband part of his troops and return to Jingzhou. Then he will not be able to attack Pucheng."

This is true, but the granary is a place that must be fought for by military strategists, and Hu Chen is no fool, so he will definitely send heavy troops to guard it.

Murong Shaozong continued:

"I have discovered in recent days that because the granary was not built in time, there are many grain transport ships piled up at the dock."

"Before sunrise every day, a strong wind will blow against the current on the river. As long as we pretend to attack the granary to distract the attention of the defenders, we can use fire ships to burn the ships."

After everyone heard this, although the plan sounded a bit risky, it seemed that the chances of success were indeed very high, and once successful, the benefits would be huge, and the remaining three months of defending the city would be easily completed.

Seeing that the soldiers had no objection, Murong Shaozong made the final decision and said:

"Order the craftsmen in the barracks to start work immediately and build fire ships that can sail with the wind!"
-
The purpose of tying down troops in the direction of Huazhou was to create opportunities for Hou Jing in Longxi County.

Three days after the Buddha's Bathing Festival, Hou Jing quickly completed the wedding under the auspices of Su Ze.

Although the Longxi Li family had some complaints about this, they had no choice but to accept it as military and national affairs were more important.

It can be said that Su Ze was quite gracious about this wedding.

The wedding dress that Princess Chenliu gave to her new bride was a brocade sent by Princess Nanyang. The embroiderer was the best one in Baizhang Tower and also a skilled craftsman in the palace at that time.

Su Ze also gave Hou Jing four top-quality white horses to welcome his bride, and personally officiated at the wedding.

This sensational wedding aroused the envy of countless unmarried ladies, and this concubine's daughter of the Longxi Li family became a figure that everyone in Yongle City talked about for a while.

My mother was of humble status and was not favored in the inner house, but she was quiet and well-behaved since childhood, and was favored by the head of the family's mother, Old Lady Li, who personally taught her women's training and housework.

However, there were also some gossips, mainly attacking Hou Jing's background and appearance.

This kind of attack was a daily occurrence for Hou Jing, but he did not expect that the girl from the Li family was also very graceful at the wedding, and she looked at Hou Jing with respect, which made Su Ze feel relieved. As long as the couple could live in harmony, it would be fine.

Su Ze gave Hou Jing another three days of wedding leave, but on the second day after the wedding, after completing the return ceremony, Hou Jing reported to Su Ze's tent.

Su Ze looked at Hou Jing in confusion. Hou Jing touched his head and said:

"My wife said that a real man should establish his career on the battlefield, not waste his time in the land of pleasure. Now is the time when the general needs people, so let me come and serve him."

I didn’t expect that this daughter of the Li family was actually a good wife?
This is a good thing. People like Hou Jing also need someone to keep him under control. Su Ze did not hesitate and announced the appointment of Hou Jing on the spot.

Su Ze assigned the 2,000 elite troops from the [Xiaoqi Battalion] and [Xiandeng Battalion] to Hou Jing, and then ordered the transfer of 8,000 soldiers from Longxi County and Hezhou Prefecture, a total of 10,000 troops from Longxi County, to attack Qinzhou.

Hou Jing was overjoyed. He suddenly understood why Su Ze asked him to marry Li's daughter.

To fight in Longxi County, one must have someone with a Longxi County background, otherwise the replenishment of local logistics and troops will be hindered.

Now that Hou Jing has married a daughter of the Li family, he can be considered the son-in-law of Longxi County. There will be no problems if he takes command.

Su Ze looked at Hou Jing and asked:

"What else do you want?"

Hou Jing thought for a moment and said:
"I suggest that after the battle in Qinzhou begins, we ask Liangzhou Governor Yang Kan to go through Chencang Road and recapture Chencang."

Su Ze looked at Hou Jing with some surprise. When he was in Liangzhou, he had a big fight with Yang Kan. Now he actually took the initiative to suggest that Yang Kan make meritorious deeds?
Hou Jing said:

"The difference between Governor Yang and I was over official business, not personal grudges. And even if it's for the general's career, we can put aside personal grudges."

Su Ze looked at Hou Jing in confusion. Hou Jing finally couldn't hold it anymore and said:
"The Liangzhou matter was my subordinate's idea, but these words were taught to me by my wife."

"Hahahahaha!"

Su Ze laughed loudly, and he dismissed Hou Jing and said:
"I have my own arrangements for Liangzhou. Just fight in Qinzhou!"

(End of this chapter)