Aspirations for Nation and Beauty: Section 1 When the time of crisis

Wufeng and his party entered Northwest County, and they could feel the destructive impact that the Luobei people had brought to this area in recent years. Bonan Mansion is originally a relatively developed economy. Wufeng saw that the soil quality in many areas here is obviously different from that in other places. It belongs to excellent quality glazed soil. Although Wufeng doesn't understand it, he also knows this kind of soil. Soil is an excellent raw material for making porcelain and pottery. The original pottery and porcelain manufacturing industry in Bonan Prefecture was quite developed. Many famous craftsmen and workshops produced here day and night. The business of the tea house and hotel is booming, and businessmen from all over the world stay here for a long time in order to get the goods as soon as possible. But now, dilapidated kilns can be seen everywhere, and the large pits for soil extraction have long been covered by thick weeds. Along the way, there are few people, and there is hardly a decent market town to be seen, which is particularly depressed.

----Since the Luobei people took control of the northern line of communication across the east, west and mid-continent more than ten years ago, there are many checkpoints along the way, and the safety of business travelers cannot be guaranteed, and the economy of Bonan Prefecture has begun to shrink Fortunately, there is still a big market in the empire, and it can still be maintained in the past. However, in recent years, the clutches of the Luobei people have gradually extended into Northwest County. The first to suffer were Qingyang Mansion and Yinchuan Mansion next to the territory of the Luobei people, followed by Bonan Mansion and Guide Mansion, and finally even Jinzhou Mansion. The government was not spared either. The annual harassment and intrusions have made the common people in several prefectures miserable. When personal safety and property safety are not guaranteed, there is no way to talk about economic development. Therefore, a large number of people left their hometowns, fled the homes where their ancestors lived for generations, and looked for other places to make a living.

----Wu Feng led the troops into Bonan Prefecture, and found that the residents here were talking about the war between the empire and the Luobei people, from government officials to giant merchants, down to ordinary people. It is hoped that the imperial army can defeat the Luobei people in one fell swoop, strengthen the border defense from now on, and reproduce the prosperity of the local area before. The arrival of Wufeng and his party was warmly welcomed by the local people and officials. Wufeng also deeply felt the local people's desire for stability and peace, which greatly aroused his determination to save the people from the fire and water.

---- Leaving Bonan Mansion and entering Qingyang Mansion, the situation here is even worse than Bonan Mansion. The fertile fields have been barren for many years, overgrown with weeds and no one cultivates them; the roads and bridges have been in disrepair for a long time and it is difficult to walk ; The irrigation ditches are blocked and obliterated, making them unusable; there are few pedestrians on the road, and most of the people you meet are ragged and disheveled, and there is no such thing as the "Northwest Granary" in the past. Splendid Heshan fell here! In this situation, Wufeng couldn't help clapping his hands and sighing.

---- On October 7th, Wufeng led the troops to **** a large amount of food, weapons, medicine and other logistics materials and finally arrived at the terminal --- Qingyang Fucheng safely. After entering Fucheng, Wufeng took the team to the west of the city for a simple resettlement, and then went to visit the city guard's office, hoping to get help from the local government to arrange these supplies and his subordinate soldiers, and at the same time to inquire about the battle situation ahead. Wu Feng ordered Liang Chongxin to stay in the contest, and he, Xiao Tang, Cui Wenxiu and his party came to the Chengshou Mansion in the center of the city. On the way to the Chengshou Mansion, the three of Wufeng learned that the battle situation ahead was still in a stalemate. The common people here were very concerned about the movement of the battlefield ahead. I am worried that if the battle situation is not good for the empire, it is better to prepare early and pack up my belongings to hide. After learning that the battle situation ahead is still stable, Wufeng calmed down a little. Maybe he overestimated the Luobei people or underestimated Situ Mingzhi.

----When we came to the Chengshou Mansion, it was a rather large mansion, but it seemed a bit deserted. After Wu Feng reported his identity and intention of coming, the yamen guard who watched the gate hurried in to report. Wufeng and the three were received by Yuan Ning, the chief executive of Qingyang Prefecture, acting as the guardian of the city. Due to the invasion of the Luobei people almost every year in the past few years, the three prefectures of Qingyang, Bonan, and Guide were also repeatedly looted. The social security was extremely chaotic, and the imperial authorities had been unable to come up with any countermeasures. The former Northwest County Magistrate Ouyang Chun resigned four years ago on the grounds of poor health and returned to his hometown of Jiangnan County. Feeling that this is not a place to stay for a long time, they all looked for another way out, and the Northwest County Sheriff's Mansion became an empty shell. The empire has never appointed a Northwest County Sheriff. It is said that no one in the center of the empire is willing to come here. When Yuan Ning was receiving Wufeng, he also said that he was here temporarily. The entire city guard mansion was only talking to a dozen people, and it could not perform its functions at all. In fact, this place is just a reception station. Yuan Ning also said that there are still more people in this prefecture, because everyone knows that the imperial army has gone to the front line. In the past two years, except for the old, weak, sick and disabled, almost all the middle-aged people hide in the nearby mountains outside the city. , and did not come back until after the Luobei people took them captive.

----Wufeng learned about these situations, so he had no choice but to turn back to the competition field. It seemed that he had no choice but to set up camp in the competition field and live there temporarily. Back in the camp, Wufeng ordered the soldiers of all ministries not to leave the barracks without orders, so as not to harass the local people.

----At night, Wufeng arranged night duty in the camp, and he, Xiao Tang, Liang Chongxin, and Cui Wenxiu changed into casual clothes, and left the barracks to learn about the situation in the city. The streets of Qingyang City can be seen that the design is quite grand. After all, this was once the center of the entire northwest region of the empire. Although it has suffered from wars in recent years, it can still see the scenery of the past. The city wall looks a little dilapidated, many places have already collapsed, and some places are crumbling. There are not many residents in the huge urban area, and it seems very sparse. Many houses collapsed due to long-term unoccupied management. Candles like will-o'-the-wisps flickered in and out of the residential area, and the streets looked very deserted. Seeing these scenes, several people were a little depressed. The incompetence of the imperial authorities made the once prosperous cities become so depressed, the fertile fields were overgrown with weeds, the bustling market towns became ruins, and the vast number of people were displaced and had nowhere to go. quiet.

----"Xiao Tang, what do you think of the situation here?" The four of them looked around for a while, and Wufeng spoke up, "The conditions are very good, but it's a pity that it's abandoned and lacks popularity. It may take a little effort to get up. Of course, the premise is to block the attack of the Luobei people." Xiao Tang replied unhurriedly. "Chongxin, Wenxiu, what do you two think about this place?" Wufeng asked Liang and Cui again. "Qingyang's geographical location is very important, it extends in all directions, and it is a strategic location, but here is flat, lacks danger, and is easy to attack and difficult to defend." Liang Chongxin just finished speaking, "Yes, brother Liang is right, it is easy to attack and difficult to defend, Moreover, the city walls of Fucheng have collapsed and collapsed everywhere, and urgently need to be repaired. Due to the long-term state of anarchy, the security situation here has reached a very dangerous point. I heard that the horse thieves here are quite powerful, and bandits are also quite rampant. It was very difficult." Cui Wenxiu also added that both of them viewed it from a military point of view. "That's why, there are both opportunities and risks here. This is called pros and cons. The ancients said that when disasters come, blessings depend on them. When blessings come, disasters lie on them. It depends on how the ruler grasps them." Wu Feng Conclude with confidence.

----Early the next morning, Wufeng sent his scout squadron directly under him to the front line. The real situation of the battlefield ahead. At the same time, the troops were ordered to take care of all the escorted materials, and send them in time once they were needed on the front line.

----This is a fine autumn weather, but for the empire, this is probably an even more unacceptable day than hailstorms. Before noon, Wufeng was carefully checking the map of Qingyang area in the camp. Suddenly, the soldiers standing guard at the gate of the camp found that the residents in the city were running around as if they had encountered some disaster. The scout rushed towards the camp at lightning speed, "Something must have happened!" the sentinel thought with a premonition.

---- "So, our army has completely collapsed, and the Luobei people have already entered." After listening to the report of the scouts, Liang Chongxin was also a little nervous, after all, he had never encountered such a situation. In a serious situation, everyone in the room looked up at Wufeng who had been silent all the time. After contemplating for a long time, Wufeng raised his head, his face was a little red, his eyes were like torches, showing the look of a red-eyed gambler, and he glanced at the crowd, "I thought about it, I want to talk I am here to gamble, I wonder if you can trust me?" Xiao Tang took the lead and said, "I would like to listen to my lord's orders." Liang and Cui also stood up immediately, "Please give me an order, my lord." "Okay! Everyone knows the report just now At this moment, the Luobei cavalry has chased the imperial troops and bypassed the city of Qingyang. I judge that the enemy probably thinks that there are no troops that can compete with them in this area, so they directly killed Bonan and Guide without dividing troops. Entering Qingyang Mansion City, they probably plan to completely defeat the Western Expeditionary Force of the Empire first, and then the follow-up troops will follow up and loot. I think I will gamble with the Luobei people in Qingyang Mansion." Wufeng's tone was a little excited. "But my lord, the Luobei people have more than 100,000 troops, and we currently only have more than 5,000 people. The difference in strength between the enemy and ourselves is too great." Cui Wenxiu raised this most difficult question to avoid. "I've also taken this into consideration. There are a total of about 150,000 enemies coming, and there will definitely be some losses in the battle with the imperial army. In addition, the enemy still has a certain number of troops to **** the prisoners. We are fighting with about 100,000 people." Wufeng analyzed confidently, he knew that although the few people present trusted him unconditionally, if he didn't give them a convincing explanation, he might be on the battlefield. I will also have doubts, after all, the power balance is too far apart.

---- "But my lord, even if the enemy is only 100,000, we may not have a chance of winning. The fighting power of the Luobei people is no better than those rioting peasants and slaves." Liang Chongxin expressed the feelings of the three people present. voice. "Don't be nervous, everyone. Listen to my analysis. The purpose of this attack by the Luobei people is not to destroy the imperial army, but to rob them of food, grass and livestock that are urgently needed in their own territory. Therefore, among the 100,000 people, at least 20,000 people came to complete their primary task. Although the imperial army suffered a disastrous defeat this time, it was not completely wiped out. A considerable part of the army was just defeated. It should be within the territory of Qingyang Mansion now. Gather the scattered troops and reorganize them, and you can get a large number of fresh troops. And the most important thing is that I am not going to fight outside the city with the Luobei people, that is what they are good at and what they want Yes. I plan to use the existing city defense facilities of Qingyang City, and then seize the time to repair and improve them. The large quantities of weapons, arrows, grain and other logistics materials we brought this time can be put to great use. If we can fully mobilize the current The residents in the city should mobilize their enthusiasm to assist us in guarding the city. In addition, the enemy must not have expected to carry out a siege battle with us this time, so it is estimated that the tools and equipment for the siege they carried are not enough, and there is also a shortage of soldiers. Based on the experience of siege warfare and psychological preparation, combined with the above points, I think we have great confidence in defeating the enemy's attack." The three people's original anxiety disappeared after Wufeng's words, especially Wufeng When it was mentioned that the enemy lacked siege facilities, Liang and Cui felt even more enlightened. Yes, the enemy mainly consisted of cavalry. Coupled with the lack of siege facilities, their side had every hope of winning the battle. .

----After unifying the understanding, the sentinel came in to report that there was chaos in the city, and the residents were packing up their things and preparing to flee.

----Seeing the emergency situation, Wufeng immediately issued an order: "Liang Chongxin!"

---- "To!"

----"I order you to lead the three directly subordinate cavalry squadrons and the first brigade to divide into three groups and leave the city immediately~IndoMTL.com~ Search in the territory of Qingyang Prefecture. If you find a defeated imperial army, send someone to lead it immediately Go back to the city to compete and reorganize. If you still refuse to accept the management after explaining the situation, you can do it cheaply."

----"Yes!"

----"Cui Wenxiu!"

---- "To!"

---- "I order you to immediately lead the second brigade into five groups, patrol the city, and do a good job of persuading the citizens. If you find any people who are taking advantage of the fire, spreading rumors to confuse the public, or instigating chaos, no matter who they are, Kill them all!"

----"Yes!"

----The second general took the order and left immediately. Wufeng had recovered his calm, but when he gave the order, he showed a cold and fanatical light. Xiao Tang, who was standing at the side, saw this scene. While admiring Wu Feng's decisiveness, he also found the light in Wu Feng's eyes, and he couldn't help but feel a sudden shock in his heart.

---- "Okay, now, it's time for you and me to visit two important people." "Your Excellency, the Zhizhan and Wei families?" "Haha, it really is the heroes who see the same thing Ah!" Wufeng laughed.

----The Zhan family is a large family in Qingyang Prefecture, mainly engaged in leather product processing, while the Wei family is another prominent family, mainly engaged in livestock and agricultural product trade, both of which are quite famous in Qingyang , and the power is not small, what is more important is that in the past few years when the Luobei people invaded, many high-ranking and wealthy families have left with their families. Staying in Qingyang, so he has great prestige in the hearts of ordinary people in Qingyang Prefecture. When Wu Feng left the imperial capital, he heard Gu Ji introduce the two companies, and Gu Ji wrote a letter of introduction himself. Go see the two of you.