Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 79 Loach
Within two days, Huan Hong, Yuan He and Huan Daozhen were recruited by Jingkou again.

Liu Daogui felt that Wang Gong seemed to be deliberately making trouble for them.

However, two days later, his uncle Xiao Yuanzhi sent back news that Murong Yong of Western Yan had assembled a large army to attack Luoyang and might use the General's Office of the Conqueror.

In the six years since the establishment of Western Yan, there have been seven emperors.

In his early years, Murong Yong also made a living by selling straw sandals in Chang'an. After the Battle of Feishui, he followed Murong Hong and Murong Chong in rebelling in Guanzhong and gradually gained power.

In the 11th year of Taiyuan (386), Murong Yong killed Murong Hong's son Murong Zhong, proclaimed himself emperor, and killed all the descendants of Murong Jun and Murong Chui.

The continuous turmoil in Western Yan caused hundreds of thousands of people from Bingzhou to be displaced and flee to Hebei, Guanzhong and the Jin Dynasty.

Murong Yong was almost at the end of his rope and had become a mad dog. After failing in his attack on Guanzhong, he probably knew that his time was running out, so he set his sights on the Central Plains. Last year, he launched a tentative attack, which was repelled by Henan Prefect Yang Qunqi.

Now they have gathered a large number of troops and are eyeing Luoyang covetously.

Zhai Wei in the east was also restless. They gathered their troops and coveted Chenliu, Yingchuan and other territories in the Central Plains, hoping to get a piece of the pie.

The combined strength of both sides was about 70,000 to 80,000 troops, while Zhu Xu had less than 10,000 troops.

The situation is quite serious.

Around Luoyang, the only one who could contain Zhai Wei was Liu Laozhi's troops in Pengcheng.

Wang Gong summoned Huan Hong to Jingkou to discuss matters, which should be about the war situation in the north.

If the sky falls, there will always be someone taller to hold it up. It is not Liu Daogui's turn to worry about such military and national affairs. Zhu Xu and Liu Laozhi are both veteran generals who made great contributions in the Battle of Feishui. It should not be a problem for them to deal with these two stray dogs.

While the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind it. Behind Murong Yong and Zhai Liao, Murong Chui was watching covetously. Neither of them dared to go south to attack the State of Jin with all their strength.

Liu Daogui asked Liu Zhong to take ten strings of cash home, and then go to Jiankang to visit his uncle Xiao Yuanzhi to find out the news in the court and Yuan He's background.

He was neither Wang Gong's man nor Huan's, but he was able to seize the military power at the front. He must have other backers.

Two days later, Huan Hong and Yuan He returned to Guangling.

Finally, all the officers and officials of the military office were summoned to discuss the matter.

Liu Daogui rushed to the general's mansion and suddenly found that his seat had moved up two places.

Under the Nine-Rank System, everything was based on rank and family background. Liu Daogui's promotion of two positions showed that his status in the military government was increasing day by day.

When he looked up at the opposite side, he was stunned. Liu Yi had appeared again at some point, his face flushed. It was obvious that he had been living a good life recently.

"Your subordinate Tan Zhi greets General Liu." A strong man beside him bowed.

"It turns out to be Brother Tan. We are neighbors, so why be so polite?" Liu Daogui looked him up and down. He looked somewhat similar to Tan Shao, but more majestic.

Tan Zhi's expression brightened. "What the officer said is correct. We are all neighbors from Jingkou. We should get closer to each other in the future."

He is easier to talk to than his brother Tan Shao.

More friends mean more paths. Since the Tan family took the initiative to approach him, Liu Daogui certainly would not turn them away.

A group of people also gathered around Liu Yi on the opposite side, greeting each other. Liu Daogui only recognized one person, Meng Chang, the chief clerk of Qingzhou.

However, Yuan He also ran to greet Liu Yi, with a smile on his face, and discussed something.

The relationship between the two was not so close before.

Relatively speaking, Liu Daogui's side only has Gao Xun and Tan Zhi, which seems a bit deserted. There is no way, he entered the officialdom too late and his strength is weak.

The Liu family of Pengcheng established their clan through military power and followed the path of military merit. Liu Daogui focused his attention on the lower-level soldiers and had no chance to make friends with scholars.

Moreover, one cannot make friends with scholars just because one wants to. The Liu family of Pei County was in the circle of famous scholars. Liu Yi's father, Liu Zhen, was the Zuo Guanglu Doctor, a second-rank noble official.

Liu Zhen died early, and Liu Yi's family had just fallen on hard times, but a lean camel is bigger than a horse, and his network of connections still existed...

Not long after, Huan Hong walked out from the back room with a bad look on his face. He glanced around the hall and everyone suddenly quieted down.

"The Suolu are about to attack Luoyang. General Wang has ordered our army to march north. What do you think?" The Xiongnu people liked to shave their heads, and the Xianbei people liked to wear pigtails, so they were contemptuously called "Suolu".

Smart people know that this is a trap. With Liu Laozhi's 20,000 Northern Army in Pengcheng, there is no need for the more than 2,000 people from the General of the Conquering Army's Mansion.

Liu Daogui’s only worry was that it would affect his trip to Lanling.

After a long silence, Huan Daozhen, who was sitting at the first seat on the left, was the first to speak. "Our elite troops are all at the front. We will recruit another 5,000 soldiers to form a 6,000-strong army and march north together."

The front was indeed elite, but many officers and nobles were from Jingzhou and were direct descendants of the Huan family.

The Yuan family members had just entered the front and hadn't even sat down yet. Going north at this time would be tantamount to committing suicide.

If things go wrong, those people from the Yuan family might die inexplicably along the way...

Yuan He, who sat in the first seat on the right, remained calm, as if the matter had nothing to do with him.

At this moment, Liu Yi on the opposite side suddenly bowed and said, "I am willing to lead my warriors north!"

"You?" Huan Hong looked him up and down.

Liu Daogui laughed inwardly, thinking that his fellow surnamed person was really sharp and liked to take the lead in everything.

Huan Hong was originally planning to deal with Yuan He, but his interruption ruined Huan Hong's plans.

But on second thought, only war can bring benefits. Liu Yi has always been trying to get ahead. This time, sending troops to Luoyang may be an opportunity for him.

If one can make military achievements, he can jump from a humble family into the ranks of the gentry.

Liu Yi pointed at the people behind him and said, "I have recently recruited heroes from Guanzhong, all of whom are willing to die for the court!"

A tall, thin man stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and said in a loud voice, "Lu Zongzhi of Fufeng pays homage to Envoy Huan. I am willing to lead a thousand troops to help us defeat the Suolu!"

While Liu Daogui was developing his power in Lanling, others were also busy.

Wolves have their own ways, and snakes have their own tracks.

The three brothers Liu Yi had a wide circle of friends and were well-known. They knew many people and had many followers.

This Lu Zongzhi is obviously a brave man, with a capable air of a warrior, which is very different from the scholars in Jiangzuo.

The fact that he was able to lead his clan all the way from Fufeng to Jianghuai shows how brave he was.

"Since we have such a hero, let him go with the front." Huan Hong's eyes flashed, but he was still unwilling to let Yuan He go.

"Yes, sir!" Lu Zongzhi said in a loud voice.

"Yes, sir." Several members of the Yuan family behind Yuan He stood up and bowed to Huan Hong.

The rest are trivial matters that don't cause any harm.

Even Huan Hong himself showed little interest. He talked a few words, yawned a few times, and turned pale before hurriedly adjourning the meeting.

"Congratulations, congratulations! Panlong is now favored by the King of Xiang. He will surely be able to show his talents."

"No matter where you are, we all serve the court..."

The voice was very loud, as if he was deliberately showing off, as if he was afraid that others could not hear it.

Liu Daogui thought to himself, no wonder he was able to climb out of the pit and dared to be so unscrupulous in front of Huan Hong, it turned out that he had defected to Sima Daozi.

Internal strife was everywhere, from the imperial court to Jingkou and Guangling.

"Hmph, Liu Yi has the nerve to call himself Panlong, but he is clearly just a loach that is scheming for personal gain!" Tan Zhi cursed in a low voice.

The Tan family abandoned Sima Daozi and turned to Wang Gong. They each served their own masters, so naturally they looked down on Liu Yi.

(End of this chapter)