GBP Chapter 139 Before Chen
Chapter 139 Before Chen
In times of chaos, especially in a region where food is scarce, encounter chaos.
No rich person can escape the fate of starvation.
This is also the main reason why wealthy families in the northern part of the Central Plains stored grain and raised private soldiers.
After Ma Biao occupied Xiaolong Mountain, he had no intention of retreating.
"Captain, we've received orders to rename Xiaolong Mountain to Langya, and to station a 2,000-man detachment of veteran soldiers here."
"Set up a post station here, and it's a large transit base?"
Looking at the secret letter in his hand, it asked him to wait for someone to come and receive it. Among them were wounded soldiers from Yanzhou, as well as people from Dingzhou who were preparing to retire.
Some of these people may be in transition, while others will have no future and will eventually retire here.
Zhuozhou leads to Guangchang County, and Xiaolongshan is the shortest place to pass through.
Moreover, it borders Baozhou in the south and Yizhou in the east, and is also a bottleneck that blocks the Lu family's advance to the west.
As mentioned earlier, there are many old and wounded soldiers in Yanzhou over the years. If they are not handled properly, they will become a hidden danger in the future.
In ancient times, many administrative agencies had a simple way of dealing with wounded soldiers, which was to send them to the battlefield a second time, taking advantage of the idea that their families would treat them well after their death, and directly letting some of them die in battle.
There is also the issue of medical treatment for wounded soldiers, where the mortality rate is very high.
These generals do not treat soldiers as human beings, but as killing machines!
As the saying goes: One general's success is built on the bones of thousands of soldiers!
That's the truth.
"Where are all these people? Clean up the mountain and the foot of the mountain."
"This time, Yanzhou is sending a thousand veterans and lightly wounded soldiers. Some of the more seriously injured ones will be escorted by the Yan army."
"Okay, let him organize himself when he arrives. The inn at the foot of the mountain is ready and can open for business at any time."
Chen Qian was in charge of the Sharp Knife Battalion. Since the Independent Regiment occupied Xiaolong Mountain, this battalion has been lurking at the foot of the mountain, specializing in the business of carriage inns. It is an inn to the outside world and also serves as a bodyguard.
Today he received people coming from the north one after another.
Either on foot or in a horse-drawn carriage.
The horses were not good horses. Most of them had been injured and could barely move, which was their last contribution before death.
"But they are General Xing's men of the Yan army?"
"Exactly."
Xing Shuren was a guerrilla general of the Yan army. He fought against the remnants of Maodun of the Northern Xiongnu two years ago and became famous in one battle.
However, General Xing also caught a cold during the battle and contracted lung disease.
This time, the Yan army split up, intending to make Langya a county, accumulate strength, and consolidate the defense of the area from Yanzhou to Daijun.
"My prince has given the order and is waiting for you to come. I wonder if General Xing himself has arrived?"
Chen Qian's official rank was not high, but his strange clothes gave the impression to visitors that he was of an extraordinary status.
"We are here to contact Ma Biao, Captain Ma. May I ask who you are?"
"I'm from the New 1st Regiment's Independent Battalion, Xia Chenqian."
"Battalion?" In the Great Zhou Dynasty, there were battalions as units, and the organization was similar to the current battalions, with about a thousand people.
"Are you a battalion commander, and you're talking to our General Xing? Isn't that a bit bold?"
The person who spoke was the captain of Xing Shuren's personal guard, who was also a captain in the army.
In the Great Zhou Dynasty, a guerrilla general was roughly equivalent to a general with ten thousand men. His personal guards numbered more than a hundred but less than a thousand, but his leader was a colonel, who could lead a team of a thousand men.
Therefore, the status of the captain and battalion commander of the personal guard is equal.
"The general is right. I'm just a battalion lieutenant, so I really can't talk to General Xing. So what are your plans?"
The most annoying thing in the army is when two groups of people get into a fight, and if things go wrong, they will end up fighting.
In the carriage, Xing Shuren, who was resting, heard the words of his personal guard leader. Although it was for his own sake, it was unnecessary to be so arrogant on someone else's territory.
"Erhu, please be polite and courteous, don't cause unnecessary trouble... cough cough cough~~~"
There was a weak voice and a noticeable cough coming from the carriage.
"Yes, General, I will..."
"That's not necessary, young general. The person in the car must be General Xing!"
Chen Qianye was too lazy to care about these things. He turned around and signaled the guards beside him to bring something.
"My husband told us a few days ago that General Xing has arrived and asked us to give these things to the general. It would be best if we could find time to go to Luancheng."
"What is this?" Xing Erhu saw a clay jar being brought in, with something black inside that looked like sauce.
"How should I put it? It can be considered medicine, but we prefer it as a sweet ointment. In winter, many soldiers take it and dissolve it in water."
"Medicine, you guys are so bored that you use medicine as sweet water...?"
Erhu's words obviously piqued the interest of the people in the car.
"Erhu, take it, dissolve it in water and drink it."
"okay!……"
Xing Erhu immediately took out a ceramic jar filled with clean water from the back of the car.
"Can I ask, is this water raw or cooked?"
Out of politeness, or perhaps concern, Chen Qian stepped forward and asked.
"Do you distinguish between raw and cooked water in your family?"
"Haha~ In my family, and even in my generation, we drink water in two ways: raw water and cooked water."
Xing Shuren was almost amused by this. He coughed a few times and asked, "This is Captain Chen. Can you tell me how to distinguish between raw and cooked water?"
"General Xing, the Dingzhou Military Health Manual stipulates that drinking water is divided into raw water and cooked water. Cooked water is also called boiled water, and it is generally best not to be kept overnight..."
"Raw water is water that has not been boiled. It is forbidden to drink in the military camp or among the people. If you violate the rules in the military, the consequences will be..."
When Xing Erhu heard that he would have to drink raw water and be beaten with a stick, he felt his buttocks tighten instantly.
The military regulations of the Dingzhou Army are too perverted.
Xing Shuren didn't think much about it, thinking that it must have a reason to be included in the military regulations, so he ordered: "Erhu, go boil some hot water."
"General, if you are thirsty, we have prepared a room for you. There is boiled water inside, and there is a charcoal fire to warm the water for you. You can drink it at any time."
Chen Qian pointed to a yard as he spoke. It looked like a brick-concrete structure, and the house seemed to still be smoking.
This isn't the time to cook, so why is there still smoke coming out of the house?
Xing Shuren grumbled in his heart, but did not ask any further questions for the sake of face.
The group came to this house accompanied by Chen Qian.
"Originally, this house was our combat headquarters. The conditions are a bit shabby, so please don't blame me, General Xing."
There was heating in the room. Xing Shuren, who had been starving all the way, felt like he had arrived in heaven. How could he have the courage to blame others?
"Thank you, Captain Chen. This is very good. It is much better than the conditions in my Yanzhou camp."
"No need to thank me. This was all Prince Consort Zhao's instructions and Captain Ma's arrangements. I was only responsible for arranging General Xing's position. I will carry out any requests you have."
Chen Qian straightened up and stood in front of Xing Shuren and spoke modestly and respectfully.
Only then did Xing Shuren realize that his men had not arrived yet and everything had been arranged by someone, especially the repeated mention of the son-in-law, which showed how much this person cared about their old and disabled soldiers.
"I will definitely go to Dingzhou when I have the chance and thank the Prince Consort in person."
Chen Qian heard Xing Shuren talking, turned around, handed over a spoonful of sugar paste, and said, "According to the Prince Consort's instructions, this sugar paste should be taken three times a day, one spoonful each time. During the medication period, you cannot drink alcohol, raw water, or overexert yourself."
Xing Erhu watched as his job was snatched away by Chen Qian, and said with a calm smile, "Captain Chen, this job is mine, just leave it to me."
After saying that, he took the sugar paste from Chen Qian and walked carefully towards Xing Shuren.
"Ahem... It would be a shame for me to use such good sugar paste. I'd better share it with my brothers."
Xing Shuren didn't want to use these because they were just to satisfy his appetite.
"General, the Prince Consort has instructed that this sugar paste be taken three times a day, one spoonful at a time. During the medication period, you must not drink alcohol, unboiled water, or overexert yourself."