met free Chapter 183 Seeking Reason
Chapter 183 Seeking Reason
Many people followed the Liu family in the uprising, but few of them had a good ending.
As descendants of slaves, Zhao Shi's Zhao Ge and Zhao Li abolished slavery after the dynasty gained control of the country. This was one of the few dynasties in ancient times that abolished slavery.
You know, human sacrifice is one of the typical characteristics of slave society.
After being freed from slavery, ? changed his surname to Shi.
Moreover, the Shi family's status suddenly changed from slaves to military households.
It was during this period that Shi Ge took control of a slave army of the ? clan and stationed it in Guwu County.
Guwu County mainly has iron mines, coal mines, limestone mines, etc., which were strategic materials at that time.
Therefore, they relied on these materials to earn their livelihood and achieve the greatest development.
After Tuoba Youyou was defeated, he wanted to go back and reunite with Tuoba Jing.
"We have received the instructions from the head of the family. We will not go north, but head south to Guwu."
Lu Yang, then the commander-in-chief of Jinzhong, was a veteran of many battles and held considerable authority. After the division of his forces, he was reduced from 50,000 to 30,000. Lu Benzhong wrote to him, requesting that he not return to Jinzhong but to go to Guwu instead.
"I lost the best warrior of the tribe, and the Grand Marshal is gone with him. What else can I do if I stay? The injured warriors are also leaving one after another."
Tuoba Youyou pretended to be sad, but in fact he didn't want to go to Guwu.
Life was not easy living under someone else's roof, so he wanted to occupy a place to recuperate.
"If all else fails, go twenty miles west to a place called Qiuyou. Most of the people there are from the Northwest Barbarians."
Lu Yang did not reveal Tuoba Youyou's thoughts, but tried to wake him up by using Qiu You as a place.
The Jin army was the army that destroyed Qiu You, and Jinzhong (Zhong) was the death knell for Qiu You.
Tuoba Youyou didn't know the story behind this place, and happily accepted the idea of going there.
Lu Yang had no way to deal with Tuoba Youyou, so he could only take his 50,000 people to Guwu County.
As soon as they arrived in Liangyu, they were blocked in the mountains by Shi Li and his army.
"Tell Chief Shi Ge that I am from the Lu family and want to discuss an important matter with him."
The vanguard Lu Zhi was Lu Yang's nephew, young and energetic, and looked at Shi Li, who was strong and stern, with a resolute expression, but was leading a group of people without battle robes, and said arrogantly.
"How can you see Chief Shige whenever you want? Go camp in the woods outside Liangyu. There's water there, and your men won't die of thirst."
Shi Li pointed to a jungle on the side of the mountain and said expressionlessly.
It was almost October, and the cold current from the north was invading every part of Bingzhou. Although it was not enough to freeze people to death, it was uncomfortable to sleep outside the city.
"How dare you make me, a general, sleep outdoors in the mountains." Lu Yang, who arrived later, heard Shi Li's words, rode forward quickly, drew his sword, pointed at the other party and said.
When Shi Li saw the other party draw his sword, he did not hesitate. He whistled and the people who were ambushing around raised their bows and arrows.
Liangyu is surrounded by mountains and the forest is not very dense. It is clearly visible that there are about 20,000 ambushing troops on both sides.
Seeing that a battle was about to begin, Lu Zhi raised his eyebrows and chuckled, saying, "If my men hadn't gone north to carry out the orders of the patriarch, I would have been able to destroy you guys before dark. Generals, listen to my orders, take up your shields for defense, and prepare to fight back."
The vanguard army was equipped with iron armor and iron shields, and their bows and arrows were all three-stone strong bows. They were ready and aimed at the ? tribe soldiers halfway up the mountain.
Lu Yang doesn't want to fight, nor can he fight this battle.
He put down his sword, spurred his horse forward two steps, and approached Shi Li and said, "Your slavery was originally secured for you by my master. Even if we are not indebted to him, at least we are not enemies. Why do this?"
His tone softened, and Shi Li was not going to be unreasonable. He waved his hand and asked the people around him to put down their bows and arrows.
Seeing this, Lu Yang also ordered his men to release their arrows to avoid accidental injuries.
"Why did the commander-in-chief bring his troops here?"
Shi Li still couldn't help but ask Lu Yang.
"There is something your chief has always wanted to do, but he never had the chance. Now the opportunity has come."
Lu Yang did not directly say what it was about. After all, there were many people here and some things were not convenient to be made public.
"My eldest brother is in Guwu County and definitely can't come today. So, your team will stay where I told you to. You take some people to the market town, and I'll arrange for someone to invite my eldest brother and host a banquet for the distinguished guests."
Seeing this, Lu Yang had no choice but to do so. He ordered Lu Zhi to lead his troops to camp in the mountains, and then took some people into the city to purchase some daily necessities.
Liangyu is a poor area. It used to be a county, but later it was found unnecessary and was changed into a town, which has continued for hundreds of years.
This was also one of the main places where the ? clan lived.
Shi Li was also born here.
It is said that Tuoba Youyou took his men to Qiuyou, which is a county. Although it is not big, it has a city after all.
The city was more than twenty feet in diameter and was guarded by only a dozen soldiers. From a distance, they saw Tuoba Youyou waving flags and banners, and it was clear at a glance that they were not the army of the Great Zhou.
"Enemy, there is an enemy..."
Qiu You’s predecessor was the Di people, also known as the Di people for short.
Even after the official from the government office on the city wall shouted, no one seemed to panic.
"Di people, my ancestors are the White Di people. Go and ask them which branch of Di they are from?"
"Old man, you're still claiming to be a Di people. Be careful that the officials will arrest you. The Great Zhou has been established for so many years. We are all Zhou people."
"Haha, yes."
The people below the city chatted jokingly, not forgetting to look up at the tower and said, "Young man, do you see clearly? Where are these Di people?"
The officer on the tower pointed tremblingly into the distance and said, "They must be the Xiongnu enemies."
"Hun? Di people? Or the enemy?"
This information quickly echoed in everyone's minds. Some people panicked instantly, gathering their things and shouting, "The Xiongnu barbarians are coming. I'm going home."
This shout was of no consequence; most people packed up their belongings and ran away.
Some people remained unmoved. They found a place to sit down, looked at the people around them, and asked in their own language: "Which Xiongnu tribe are you from?"
"Anyway, this isn't our barbarian country. Stop dreaming. Just lean against a tree and take a nap. Whether you live or die depends on God's will."
At this time, an elderly man came out. He was the county magistrate, Kui Zheng. Kui Zheng looked haggard and anxious. He hurried to the city wall and saw the approaching people. He realized that they were the Tuoba Xianbei army. News had reached Jinyang that they were sent there by the Lu and Wang families.
Kui Zheng ran over and asked, "Your humble servant Kui Zheng, may I ask if you are from the Xianbei Tuoba tribe?"
Tuoba Youyou's military structure is now in chaos, and he only has one personal guard leader who has a say.
After taking a look at Tuoba Youyou's face, he rode forward and said, "We are from the Tuoba family. Our leader plans to rest in the city for a few days. Please let us in immediately."
Kui Zheng looked at the 50,000 wounded and defeated soldiers. They seemed to have no fighting power at all, but he didn't dare to offend them.
So he ordered the yamen runners to open the city gates and let Tuoba Youyou's army enter the city.
It was originally a small city with a total population of less than 30,000. Suddenly, 50,000 troops poured in, and the residents of the city were instantly in chaos.
Kui Zheng looked at the bandit-like Xianbei soldiers committing crimes in the city, so he had no choice but to shake his head and leave the county government office. He went out of the city and came to Xiagang Village as a temporary residence.
Then he wrote a memorial quickly and submitted it directly to Emperor Zhao Hengzhen and Prince of Jin Zhao Jing, bypassing Jinyang Prefect Wang Danwang.
……