Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 31 Pit

To be honest, the predecessor's death was not unjust.

There are so many military affairs piled up, and these are only those that have been reported. There is no telling how much more has not been reported. This shows how rotten the General Zhenglu's Mansion is.

Although there were many matters that he, a mere private soldier, could not make decisions on, there were also many things that he could handle, and there was no reason for so many to pile up.

The position of Zhongbing Canjun may seem unimportant, being just a ninth-rank official, but he has direct contact with soldiers and can grasp the situation in the army at the first time.

If the Sima above is a person who does not take charge of affairs, the military officer of the Central Army will have greater authority and even the promotion and reward of soldiers will be in his hands.

The reason is simple. Huan Honggui is a descendant of a noble family and would certainly not have direct contact with ordinary soldiers. He must control the military government through corrupt officials like Liu Daogui.

The sons of high-ranking families occupy prominent positions, take pride in not doing practical work, and look down on the officials below them...

The General Zhenglu's Mansion is in such a mess now. Liu Daogui guessed that the Sima above him was not a good person either.

The former soldier who joined the army was most likely a scapegoat.

Anyone who has done business knows that cheap things are not good things. This soldier was almost given to him for free. There must be some twists and turns in it. Otherwise, why would such a good thing happen to him?
Everyone worked until late at night before they managed to clean up the courtyard.

After cutting some wood, we lit a bonfire in the yard and cooked some dry food.

"We've just arrived, so let's first get a feel for the situation. There are quite a few people from Jingkou in Guangling. We should go and mingle with them, try to get to know the important people in the General of the Conqueror's Mansion, and find out what Envoy Huan likes and dislikes."

Liu Daogui assigned tasks to everyone.

There was no way. As soon as I arrived in Guangling, I felt a vague hostility.

If you don't know the other party's background, you will be too passive.

"As long as we have people from Jingkou, things will be easy." Liu Guangzhi patted his chest.

He is an old soldier in the Northern Palace and has some connections.

Besides, Jingkou is so small that you’ll see people everywhere, and there are only a few powerful ones.

Liu, Gao, Gaoping Tan, Donghai Xu, Pingchang Meng, and several other small surnames.

"It's obvious that Huan Hong is a rich kid. Why should I be afraid of him?" Liu Zun became more arrogant again.

"You know nothing." Liu Daogui replied.

Everyone laughed, and Liu Zun also smiled foolishly.

The children of noble families may not be good at practical matters, but they have been influenced by their surroundings since childhood and are all masters of internal fighting. If you look down on them for this reason, you will be seeking your own death.

Liu Daogui only hopes that he can live in peace for the next two years, and that everyone can get along well and not interfere with each other.

Given the current state of Jiangzuo, the court is engaged in fierce internal and external struggles, while the local Tianshi Dao is sweeping through the region. Countless people who are unable to survive have joined in, and a storm is imminent...

After drinking some soup made from corn bran and dried fish, Liu Daogui went to bed early.

Liu Zun, Liu Heipi and Liu Guangzhi took turns to keep watch.

On the second day, I thought Sima would summon him as usual, but unexpectedly no one came the whole day, as if he had forgotten about the existence of Zhongbing Canjun.

When Liu Guangzhi and Liu Heipi were in the Northern Palace Army, they had been to Guangling many times and were familiar with the route, so they took everyone there.

Liu Daogui cleaned up the documents left by his predecessor, classified them into different categories, and separated the affairs of the military households and the central soldiers.

While cleaning the house, several volumes of military strategy were found.

It contains both Sun Tzu's Art of War and Taigong's Six Strategies, as well as annotations and punctuation left by predecessors. The handwriting is neat and the insights are quite unique.

It seems that he should be a diligent student, but it's a pity that in this world, it's difficult for people from poor families to make a living...

With nothing to do, I just flipped through it. Since I was joining the army, I would be exposed to military affairs sooner or later, and it would be wrong to not know about military affairs.

Once you see it, you'll be hooked. Wu Zi emphasizes military training and actual combat, while Sun Tzu's Art of War and Taigong's Six Strategies emphasize strategy and calculation, paying attention to the right time, place, and people, and assessing the situation. "The world is not the world of one person, but the world of all people."

"The first is to attack the enemy, then the second is to attack the enemy, the second is to attack the army, and the third is to attack the city."

Sun Tzu's Art of War and Taigong's Six Strategies have gone beyond the scope of military strategy.

Jiang Ziya, Sun Wu, and Wu Qi were all figures at the pinnacle of their respective times. Liu Daogui felt that he had benefited greatly from being able to learn from them, and even his horizons had been broadened a lot.

It’s a pity that they are all fragments and each chapter is incomplete.

The aristocratic families monopolized not only high-ranking officials, generous salaries, mountains and rivers, but also various books.

Ordinary people have no access to books, let alone military strategies.

"I have found out clearly that Xun Xinzhi was born in the Xun family of Yingchuan, Yuan He was born in the Yuan family of Chenjun, and Huan Daozhen is from the same clan as Huan Hong. He has some literary talent but no practical ability." Liu Zhong was the youngest, but he was smart and quick-witted, so he quickly sent back the first message.

Sima Yuan He, Chief Clerk Xun Xinzhi, and Secretary Huan Daozhen had accompanied Huan Hong on a hunting trip north for two days...

The Xun family of Yingchuan and the Yuan family of Chenjun were both top-ranking families who crossed the Yangtze River at that time. In the second year of Shengping (358), Xun Xian, the sixth-generation grandson of Xun Yu, died young, which cut off the pillar of the family. The Xun family never produced another high-ranking official with the rank of two thousand stones again, and the family declined.

In addition, the rise of the Huan and Xie families squeezed out many prominent families.

The Yuan family of Chen County had always followed the lead of the Huan family. Yuan Hong, Yuan Qiao, and Yuan Zhen all assisted Huan Wen. Someone in Jiangzuo once joked: If you meet a Huan on the road, there will definitely be a Yuan within ten steps...

"What does Envoy Huan like?"

"Besides hunting, he enjoys socializing with famous people, Five Stone Powder, and beautiful boys and girls..."

These are almost standard features of "celebrities".

Huan Hong is the fourth son of Huan Chong. He is less than 40 years old this year. When he was born, the Huan family was already wealthy and powerful. He has been living a life of luxury since childhood, so it is normal for him to have these hobbies.

However, these can only be used as a reference.

People who like to have fun are not all good-for-nothings. Back then, Xie An also liked to travel around with his concubines and live a carefree life. After he entered the court and became an official, he became a famous minister.

Huan Chong loved idle talk and took Five Stone Powder, which ultimately killed him...

In the evening, Liu Guangzhi and Liu Heipi brought back a man with a flat bun on the back of his head, which was commonly used by military generals. He looked dignified and energetic.

Liu Guangzhi introduced, "This is Gao Xun, also known as Gao Ziyu, from the Le'an Gao family. He and I followed Commander Xie in the Northern Expedition, and he initially served as Sima of the Left Division of the Central Army."

The Sima of the Left, also known as the Commander of a Thousand Men, was in charge of a unit of troops.

"Liu Daogui of Pengcheng greets Sima Gao!" Liu Daogui clasped his fists and bowed.

In addition to the Liu family, another major surname in the Northern Army is the Gao family. The Liu family is divided into three branches: Pengcheng, Dongguan, and Peixian. The Gao family is even more numerous, with four branches: Bohai, Chenliu, Le'an, Yuyang, and Liaodong.

The most famous family at present is the Chenliu Gao family, which produced Yuan Shao's nephew Gao Gan and the famous minister Gao Rou.

Huailing prefect Gao Su and Dongguan county governor Gao Yazhidu were both from the Bohai Gao family.

"General Liu, you are too polite. Since we are all from Jingkou, we should help each other in the future." Gao Xun was straightforward and had the capable style of a military man.

Liu Daogui took the big snake with him and said, "Why bother to say more? We in Jingkou have always been one family!"

The overseas Chinese in Jingkou are relatively united. They are all overseas Chinese from the north and have a common identity. After sixty or seventy years of integration, they are almost a whole.

With his support, Liu Daogui, a private soldier, would have more confidence to join the army.

At least there's a reliable ally.

One is in the military government and the other is in the army. They are interdependent and support each other.

"Since we are family, let me speak frankly. Does Lieutenant Liu know that he is in imminent danger of death?" Gao Xun's words were shocking...

(End of this chapter)