Royal road

Chapter 334

He couldn't help being excited.Since Shile fled famine and left Bingzhou, he has not returned to his hometown for seven years.The old mother who stayed in Wuxiang back then has long since disappeared.He also sent people secretly into Bingzhou to look for it several times, but his hometown was already empty.Could it be that mother had died in that terrible famine?Shi Le even made the worst plan, but refused to give up.

until today.

The curtain was lifted abruptly, Shi Le's tiger eyes were red, he stepped forward quickly, and threw himself at the feet of the old woman sitting in the tent: "Mother, the child is not filial!"

In just one sentence, the voice choked up.

"Gee!" Seeing her son, Wang raised her hand to cover her mouth, trying to stop her exclamation, but tears fell first.The next moment, she cried bitterly and hugged Shi Le tightly.How many villagers died of starvation, and she, an old woman with no strength to restrain a chicken, can survive and see her beloved son again, so why is it not the blessing of gods and Buddhas?

Hearing his mother's cry, Shi Le's heart ached so badly that he couldn't help but shed tears.The mother and son hugged each other and cried for a long time before barely holding back their tears.

Carefully supporting his mother on the soft couch, Shi Le handed over the cloth towel, and said softly: "Mother must have suffered a lot in these years. Now that I have come to Yanzhou, my son will definitely let my mother have no worries..."

As if something was on his mind, he paused before continuing: "By the way, where are the rest of the family? Why didn't you see Ah Hu?"

This Ah Hu is Shi Le's cousin and has been raised by his mother.When he left Bingzhou, that kid was only seven or eight years old, and he should be grown up now.

Hearing her son mention Shihu, Wang shed tears again: "Ahu was young and reckless, wounded people with a slingshot and was beaten to death..."

Shi Le actually didn't like this naughty nephew very much, but he couldn't help being sentimental when he heard what his mother said, and quickly said: "When I marry a regular wife and give birth to a child, I will lead it to my mother's knees. I will not let my mother's knees be empty." .”

Hearing her son mention marrying a wife and having children, Wang suddenly became excited: "I heard people say, how many children did you have who died young?"

This is also Shile's heart disease.In the early years, he was unable to marry a wife, but later he led the army and gained status, so Shi Le took a few concubines.But none of the children born survived.With a long sigh, he nodded: "The war is chaotic, so I can't rush to marry a wife. But after Yanzhou is settled, I will definitely marry a woman from an aristocratic family, and honor my mother well..."

But Mrs. Wang seemed to have heard something terrible, and grabbed his arm firmly: "This, this is the punishment of the Buddha! You must listen to your mother, and don't be an enemy of the Buddha anymore!"

As soon as these words came out, Shi Le thumped in his heart: "Mother is confused, how can there be any Buddhas?!"

But the Wang family didn't listen to this: "If it wasn't for the Buddha's son to save Wuxiang, my clansmen and I would have died a long time ago! But you still want to raise troops to be an enemy of the Buddha's son! Isn't this a breach of trust? Quickly vote in Bingzhou, and worship at the Buddha's feet!"

How can this be? !No one knows better than Shi Le himself that he has become the deadly enemy of Jin.Just the king of Sima County killed countless people, and even fought against Bingzhou soldiers and horses again and again.If you give up the current foundation and surrender to merge the state, the most likely thing is to be killed by the opponent.The only place he can stand now is the side of Han.

But why would mother say that?Shi Le's face darkened: "Who told you this? Did someone provoke you to persuade me to surrender?"

Wang's face was full of anger immediately: "You still want the Buddha to persuade you to surrender? It's a great blessing that he didn't punish you! Only by paying for your sins can you be free. Don't get stuck in the mud!"

Didn't the officials in Bingzhou tell my mother this?But Shi Le didn't dare to take it lightly, he thought for a moment before saying: "Mother, you must be tired after you just came to the camp, so rest for two days first. My son will come to accompany you later."

As he spoke, he ordered the maids in the tent to serve him, while he walked out of the tent.After pausing for a moment, Shi Le suddenly said to the servants beside him, "Who found the old lady?"

The servant quickly said: "The ones who were sent to the Shangdang back then. It took a lot of thought to escort the old lady out of Bingzhou."

"Is there anyone else beside the old lady?" Shi Le asked.

"I haven't seen any strangers." The servant replied.

It seems that the mother is really not instigated by anyone.However, Shi Le did not feel happy.From the corner of the eye, he glanced at the cronies around him, and saw that many people had complicated expressions on their faces.

This is a headache.

Since Shi Le led the "Eighteen Cavalry" to raise troops, his confidantes have been miscellaneous Hus including the Xiongnu, Yueshi, Tianzhu, and Wuhuan.And most of these people believe in Buddhism.What's more, in order to avoid the epidemic, he allowed the medical officer to spread Bingzhou's method of avoiding the epidemic to stabilize the morale of the army.It was also from then on that the Buddhist disciples in Bingzhou became well-known existences.

Fortunately, many of the Hus had never really been to Bingzhou, and he had more than just Hus under his command, so he managed to keep the balance.However, after the battle in Yecheng, Wang Mijiang's troops and the refugees were completely dispersed, and those who followed him back to Yanzhou were probably his confidants.How many of these people will remember who they lost in this battle because of their mother's words?

No matter how strict the military discipline is, you can't stop the mother who gave birth to him and raised him!But if things go on like this, if everyone starts to fear the Buddha in Bingzhou, how can the battle be fought?Shall not move his foundation? !

"The old lady came to Yanzhou for the first time, so let her take good care of her. Don't let her go out to work. Send all the women in the inner courtyard to accompany the old lady to relieve boredom." Shi Le made a decisive decision.

He will take good care of his mother, but don't appear in front of outsiders.Alas, it would be great if I could pick her up sooner, why did she believe in these rhetoric.

Glancing again at the cronies standing on both sides, Shi Le stopped talking and strode out of the tent.

However, this painstaking effort was not as useful as imagined.A few days later, rumors spread in the army.The reason why Yecheng was defeated was precisely because the general offended the Buddha, causing the heavenly soldiers to break through the camp at night.And this is not the first time he has been defeated in front of Bingzhou soldiers and horses.When the great general attacked Yecheng, he was also driven away by Buddha's light cavalry.In Jizhou, he was killed to the point that none survived, and fled in embarrassment.

This is not the most terrible thing. Some people even say that the severe drought in Yanzhou occurred because of disrespect to Buddha.Otherwise, how could Yecheng grow crops?It is said that the harvest in Bingzhou is better, just like a good year!

Faced with this wave of rumors, Shi Le couldn't find a way to deal with them.He had never won a single battle against Bingzhou.This is his weakness, besides, many rumors in the army are said to have come from the old lady.Whether this matter is true or not is inconclusive, but the law does not blame the public, let alone add fuel to the fire.

It would be great if we could win a battle.As long as one battle, the world will be turned around!

When Shi Le was in a state of desperation, a military order came from Han.Bingzhou had the intention of attacking Pingyang and ordered Shi Le to lead his troops to help.

■

"The drought has not subsided, and there is no guarantee of summer harvest in various places. Now Yuzhou and Yanzhou are full of hungry people waiting to be fed. Even if they are taken back, it will only increase the burden. But Shile is newly defeated, and the Xiongnu still have to stick to Yongzhou and Qinzhou. There is emptiness everywhere. Isn't it the right time to raise troops?" Zhang Bin talked eloquently at Si Bing's staff seat.

All the generals here, who doesn't have a strategic vision?Linghu Sheng twitched his beard and said, "Zhang Canjun refers to... Pingyang?"

"Exactly!" Zhang Bin asked his subordinates to reveal the map, "Now Luoyang has been settled, and Lishi is safe. If our army divides into three groups and takes Sizhou directly, we are very sure to conquer the two counties! It is said that Pingyang is located in the flank of Bingzhou, but it is just the salt pond in the east of the river, so people have to take it!"

On the top of the map, Pingyang and Hedong are painted with bright red marks.Now, the generals started to discuss.Who here doesn't know the importance of the Hedong Salt Pond?It can be said that before the Xiongnu and puppet Han could raise tens of thousands of troops, there was no shortage of food and grass, and [-]% of their income was from selling salt.Logically speaking, the strength of Hedong should not be small, but it happens that Yongzhou also has Yanchi, and Hedong is no longer the only reliance.After occupying Chang'an, the main force of the Xiongnu went west, trying to stick to the two prefectures of Yong and Qin.In the old capital of Pingyang, the defense was quite slack, and in addition to the severe drought, it was surprisingly empty.

"The final general is willing to lead the troops!" Li Jun said loudly.

General Yi is now out of Ye City, so he may not be able to rush back to participate in the battle.The attack on Pingyang this time is very likely to use the soldiers and horses left behind in Jinyang.His subordinates have also been training for a period of time, and with the full support of the governor's office, it is not impossible to capture Pingyang.If he is really allowed to participate in this battle, he will definitely make great contributions!

Hearing Li Jun speak, Linghu Kuang couldn't sit still.Regardless of his uncle being by his side, he said loudly: "The last general is also willing to lead the army!"

The young people have already won the battle, but Linghu Sheng is mature and prudent. After thinking for a moment, he asked: "Hedong is the salt warehouse of the Huns, and there are many fertile fields from aristocratic families. I am afraid they will send troops to help. The enemy army in Yongzhou is fine. If Shi Le is ordered Come to help out?"

He knew very well that the stone thief was strong and cunning.Even if they lose a game in Yecheng, it may not hurt their roots.Just by watching him escape from Yiyan's hands several times, one can tell that he is an extremely difficult person.If there is such a powerful enemy to help, maybe it will bring changes to the battle situation.

Zhang Bin smiled slightly: "General Linghu doesn't need to worry too much about this. My lord has already made arrangements."

As soon as these words came out, everyone's hearts trembled.It seems that the lord has considered it very carefully, and it is inevitable for the two counties!

"If that's the case, the final general would like to lead the troops to rush forward from Lishi." Linghu Sheng made a decisive decision, clasped his fists and said.

Seeing the eagerness of the generals, a slight smile appeared on the corner of Zhang Bin's lips.Naturally, the attack on Pingyang and Hedong was planned long ago, and the battle of Yecheng was part of it.As for Shi Le's thief, it's time to end it.