General Qin

Between the abundance of Chu State.

It was the month of Winter Eve in the Chu calendar.

In Fengyi, every house in the village is decorated with lanterns and festoons, reed ropes are hung on the door, and peach charms with the names of Shentu and Yulei written on them are inserted beside them.

There are children playing and chasing everywhere, and the whole town is filled with a happy atmosphere.

The hall of the Liu family.

Liu Taigong is on the top seat.

All the members of the Liu family in the hall, in order of seniority and youngest, dress up and pay homage to each other in turn, and at the same time drink pepper and wine to wish each other.

Pepper wine is a drink that Chu people often drink.

As it is said in "Nine Songs", "Hui delicacies are steamed with orchids, and osmanthus wine is served with pepper paste."

Chu people drink chili wine to congratulate each other in the first month, starting from the youngest, and the older they are, the last they can drink this wine.

This is the so-called jubilation of the younger ones, and congratulate them with wine first. The old man loses his age, so he drinks with wine. Quite a local characteristic.

Now that the members of the Liu family finished drinking one by one, when they arrived at Liujiao, everyone congratulated, "Ajiao, Zhengdan is well."

"Zhengdan is well."

Liu returned a sentence, drank the peppery wine in one gulp, turned his head and shouted habitually: "Third brother, it's your turn."

As soon as these words came out, the entire Liu's hall suddenly became deathly silent.

Liu Taigong's smiling face turned black and blue.

Liu Taigong's four sons, Liu Bo, Liu Zhong, Liu Ji, and Liu Jiao.

Now there are only three people around, but Liu Ji, who used to be the most active in the family, is not in the house.

Liu Jiao swallowed his saliva. He had been calling out the order of drinking on Winter Eve for more than ten years, but now he just blurted it out, so he didn't know that he would cause trouble again.

Ever since Qin Bing crossed the border on the night of Liu Ji's wedding last year, the reputation of the Liu family has plummeted in Fengyi.

The fact that Liu Ji kicked En advocated to get off the car and broke his promise was confirmed by Qin Jun as true.

After Qin Jun left, Liu Ji never appeared again.

Although Liu Jiao kept saying that it was Lu Wan who he saw Qin Jun took away, Liu Ji might escape Qin Jun's pursuit. But Liu Taigong firmly insisted that Liu Ji was captured and killed by the Qin people, and their Liu family no longer had this son.

This result is also very possible. After all, the Qin army sent many people to search around overnight, and they didn't know whether they caught it or not.

Therefore, after this incident, although Wang Ling and other rangers were angry at Liu Ji's deception, they were all captured and beheaded by the Qin army, so they could only forget it and did not vent their anger on the Liu family.

Moreover, Wang Ling took the initiative to suppress this incident and did not allow it to spread in the Peixian area. After all, as Liu Ji's eldest brother, Wang Ling was a cover for his younger brother who did such a thing before. If the news got out, it would have a big impact on his reputation.

In addition to Wang Ling and others breaking off relations with the Liu family, Liu Taigong's best friend Lu Taigong also turned against him, often scolding Liu's evil son in the city, and killed his family's Lu Wan. The Liu family knew they were wrong, even if they were scolded, they didn't dare to reply.

"Oh, Ah Ji was captured by the Qin people, so I don't know if he is doing well."

Uncle Liu was made sad by Liu Jiao's words, he often carried Liu Ji with him when he was a child, the two of them had a brotherly friendship, now thinking of each other, tears can't help but come to his eyes.

"Is there anything else to live well? That Nizi would have had his head chopped off long ago!"

"If you don't farm the land and study well, if you idle around all day and don't study well, that's the end!"

Liu Taigong roared angrily, turned around and walked into the inner hall.

Everyone in the Liu family looked at each other in blank dismay, but as juniors, they didn't dare to leave, so they could only talk to each other in the hall, and as they talked, they talked about the recent news about Feng Pei.

"I heard that the people of Qin defeated 100,000 Qi troops in Zhencheng! Then the chief Sima of Qi was beheaded by the people of Qin on the spot."

"I've heard about it too. It is said that the Qin general who commanded this battle is the one who killed us from Fengpei and took Peigong away!"

"Zhao Tuo! I remember his name, he still defeated our Zuo Sima in Surabaya!"

Listening to the discussions of his brothers, Liu Jiao recalled the scene of the Qin army attacking that night, and couldn't help but trembled: "This Zhao Tuo is so powerful, do you think he will go south to attack us after defeating the people of Qi?" Come?"

"Hit us here? Impossible, Puyang and Zhencheng are hundreds of miles away from us! What are the Qin people doing here?" Some members of the Liu clan denied it on the spot.

Liu Zhong echoed: "That's right, and now the main force of the Qin army is confronting our Ling Yin at Chen Ying. Even if this Zhao Tuo wants to go south, he should go to Chen Ying to support him. Ajiao, you are afraid that you will be killed. The people of Qin are so scared..."

Before Liu Zhong's voice fell, there were bursts of screams outside the house: "Qin Jun is here!"

...

"Chu also celebrates the New Year in October."

Zhao Tuo walked into the camp set up by the Qin army outside Fengyi, and couldn't help but sigh.

When he set off from Qin State, it was after spring plowing, and it was hot summer when he arrived in Huaibei. When he went north to Dongjun to confront the Qi army, it was the autumn harvest time.

But now, Zhao Tuo led his army south to Fengpei, and it was already October of the year.

October in Chu State is called Dongxi, which is the same as the beginning of the year in Qin State.

When October comes, it is a new year for Qin and Chu.

It is now twenty-three years since Qin Wangzheng.

And the calculation method of age in this era has nothing to do with the month and day of birth. Generally, the year of birth is counted as one year old, and then every new year, it will increase by one year.

"So I'm eighteen."

Zhao Tuo shook his head, time passed so fast, he was eighteen years old in a blink of an eye.

Inexplicably, Zhao Tuo thought that before this expedition, Qin Wangzheng specially called him to the palace to ask questions, and at the end, he asked him without thinking, "Do you want to be a princess?"

Calculating the time, the princess is now sixteen years old, and she is already at the age to marry.

"After the destruction of Chu this time, will the king recruit me as his son-in-law?"

Zhao Tuo was looking forward to it, but it was the son-in-law of Qin Shihuang, the first emperor through the ages, which man wouldn't look forward to it?

At the same time, he felt a little uneasy. After all, the king just asked and didn't give him a clear answer.

But this kind of question without giving an answer is the most seductive, and it makes people always miss it and never forget it.

While Zhao Tuo was thinking, the curtain outside the tent was pulled up, and his confidant Lu Wan walked in.

"General, there are rumors in the village that Liu Ji was captured by our army last year and has never shown up again. Based on what I know about this person, he probably saw the situation was wrong and ran away from home. This guy Liu Ji Very cunning and treacherous, I dare not say other skills, but the ability to save life is definitely not bad."

Lu Wan said bitterly, and as soon as he returned to Fengpei, he took a group of people into the countryside, first going to his own home to reassure the old parents.

Although his own son defected to the enemy country in a blink of an eye, and even became a small official, Mrs. Lu was astonished. But the joy of Aiko's safe return is absolutely indispensable.

After a brief reunion with his parents, Lu Wan went to the Liu family again, which scared everyone in the Liu family to trembling, especially the armor of the Qin army on his body, which made Grandpa Liu kneel down and salute him tremblingly. , but Lu Wan sideways avoided.

After all, he is the younger generation Liu Taigong watched and grew up with, and he is quite fond of. Although Lu Wan hated Liu Ji, she didn't have much resentment towards everyone in the Liu family.

After inquiring about Liu Ji's news, Lu Wan turned and left, and then went to visit Xiao He's home in Lizhong with a gift from General Zhao.

"General, I also know Xiao He. He is indeed quite talented, but he is only a talent from the countryside. There are probably people like this everywhere in Xianyang City. Why does the general give gifts to him personally and value him so much?"

Lu Wan asked with some doubts, as far as he knew, General Zhao had never met Xiao He, and now he gave gifts to express his affection, which made people very curious.

"I've always valued talent."

Zhao Tuo said something lightly without explaining too much.

History has long proven Xiao He's talent.

In a word, worth it.

It's just that Xiao He is still studying abroad and has not returned home. It is a pity that Zhao Tuo did not have the opportunity to meet.

But it doesn't matter, Qin has reached the final stage of uniting the world, and the world will be unified in two years. Zhao Tuo still has a lot of opportunities. Now he will give some gifts to build a friendly foundation, which will also be good for future recruitment.

"Xiao He, I don't know what expression you will have when you return home and see the gift I gave you?"

Zhao Tuo smiled slightly, put down Xiao He's matter, and thought of another news brought back by Lu Wan.

Ever since the last time the Qin army was prosperous, Liu Ji disappeared on the wedding night, and his reputation has been ruined. After that, Liu Taigong publicized the fact that Liu Ji was captured by the Qin army, which put an end to this incident.

On the third day, Liu Ji's bride, Mrs. Lu, was picked up by his father and brother who received the news, and they severed their relationship with the Liu family.

Zhao Tuo felt at ease.

As far as he knew, apart from his own ability, the reason why Liu Ji was able to make troubles in history, his wife's Lu family members, and abundant heroes and talents played a great role in it.

Now with Zhao Tuo's participation, although he has not been killed, ruining Liu Ji's reputation is equivalent to cutting off his support in Fengshui, destroying Liu Ji's marriage, and destroying his marriage from his wife's Lu family. help.

"Liu and Lu are divided, and their reputation has been ruined. Thinking about it, even if Liu Ji can survive, there is nothing to worry about in the future."

Zhao Tuo whispered softly, then shook his head, unwilling to spend too much energy on this little man. Now is the critical moment of the Qin-Chu War, and he still has a lot to do.

Zhao Tuo concentrated on looking at the map laid out on the case, studying the next battle strategy.

"Our army travels thirty miles a day, and the distance traveled by the messenger carrying information is several times that of the army. Presumably, Xiang Yan has already received the news that I have defeated the Qi army in Zhencheng. With this person's experience, he will definitely judge I will lead my troops south from Fengpei to get in his back."

"No accident, Xiang Yan will send people to stop me, preventing me from breaking into the heart of Chu State and directly attacking Shouchun, the capital of the country."

"Our army's next route is not to worry about staying in the south of Fengpei. Pengcheng is too far away from Huaiyang, and the Chu army has no time to support it. There is no problem in taking it. So if Xiang Yan sends troops to stop me, he should be there. Sui Shui line."

Zhao Tuo murmured, and suddenly dropped his finger, pointing at a long river south of Pengcheng.

Sui Shui.

The calendar of the Chu Kingdom refers to "The State and Society of the Qin Dynasty Seen on the Qin Bamboo Slips in Sleeping Tiger Land"