"As Han Dekuang said, there are many doubts about this letter. First, the letter states that the Xianbei cavalry was killed in Xihe County, but the enemy is not clearly stated. We can understand the cause and effect of the incident because Brother Zhang is here. If

Brother Xiao Zhang is not here, or if he doesn't tell you, how do we know? If we don't know, how do the Xianbei people know?"

"Secondly, the letter only mentions the county magistrate, but it does not indicate whether he is the magistrate of Zhongyang County. Everyone, thanks to the care of His Highness, I am now the magistrate of Zhongyang County, but you all know that your highness is the magistrate of Zhongyang County.

The most noble person in the county. Obviously the Xianbei people don't know this yet. To be precise, they don't know about His Highness, and they don't even know that this place is Zhongyang County."

"Third, as Han Dekuang said, the letter did not specify how to contact us. Do the Xianbei people not intend to contact us at all, or do they have plans for the next step?"

"Fourth, when to attack the city is also a big doubt. Now there are refugees both inside and outside Zhongyang County. The Xianbei people only need to send a few cavalry to investigate. If they want to attack the city, they should take advantage of the opportunity. Why bother to send a letter

Do you want us to know? Or, whether the Xianbei people attack the city or not, does it depend on our subsequent response?"

"Fifth, the letter also stated that there are five thousand Xianbei troops. This number needs to be confirmed. It should not be believed or is a lie. If it is not an explosive statement, but the letter states the number of troops, this action obviously means to inform us.

."

"Sixth, if I remember correctly, the place where Your Highness fought with the Xianbei cavalry that day should be much closer to Lishi County and not within the scope of Zhongyang County. Even if the Xianbei people want to attack, they should attack Lishi County.

, then did Prefect Xing also receive such a letter?"

After Xun Chen finished talking about these six points, he paused and took a sip of tea, and then continued: "I think that what is said in this letter is full of contradictions. It should not be believed or disbelieved. But I boldly guess that the Xianbei people are not

There is no plan to attack Zhongyang County. The letter from the leader seems to be a deliberate reminder for us to take precautions. What is certain is that a Xianbei army has appeared in Xihe County, perhaps five thousand in number, or perhaps

They are using the killing of the Xianbei cavalry as an excuse to plunder the county town, and the specific county they will attack is still unknown. Zhongyang County, we can only say that there is a high possibility that it will become the target of the Xianbei people."

Based on Xun Chen's six points, Liu Bian quickly made arrangements. First, he sent many people to investigate around Zhongyang County to find out the movements of the Xianbei people, and then asked Xun Chen to arrange for refugees from outside the city to enter the city as soon as possible.

, In addition, Wang Yue strengthened the training of his soldiers and recruited troops again, increasing the number of soldiers to 3,000.

So the entire Zhongyang County mobilized again, and Zhongyang County, which was already crowded, became even more crowded. The refugees had no place to live, so they began to set up tents on the streets. Led by Dou Xin, Zhongyang County

All the powerful noble families began to accommodate refugees temporarily, all stores were closed, and the shops were also used as temporary residences.

After two days in a row, the detective horses sent out did not find any Xianbei people in Zhongyang County. However, Zhongyang County's tight preparations for war made all the refugees feel uneasy, and an inexplicable atmosphere of terror filled the area.

Among the refugees, Han Yi led people to make statements in the refugee camp every day to appease the refugees. There were too many refugees outside the city, and there was no longer any place for the refugees to live in the city. You Jian looked worried.

stood at the gate of the city. There were still refugees entering the city every day, and he was always worried whether the Xianbei army would come and kill him next moment.

Finally on the morning of the third day, Liu Bian received a letter from Pingding County

and Guangyan County’s letters for help. Both counties claimed to have received letters announcing the siege from the Xianbei people, and the signatories on the letters were all leaders. After Xun Chen learned about this, he became even more convinced that the Xianbei people were just

After issuing the warning, they probably did not yet know clearly who killed a group of Xianbei cavalry, so the specific county they would attack is currently unknown.

Liu Bian then wrote back to the highest-ranking officials in Pingding County and Guangyan County respectively, asking them to strengthen their defenses and always pay attention to the movements of the Xianbei people. If necessary, Zhongyang County would send troops to support them. Liu Bian actually said

In his heart, he didn't know whether if the Xianbei people attacked Pingding County or Guangyan County, whether these two counties would be able to support him enough to bring people to support them. After all, there are no magistrates in these two counties now. Xing Ji was ready to resign.

, the governor of Bingzhou did not pay attention to the affairs of Xihe County at all, so these two counties have no new county magistrates to take over the current position.

But on the night of the third day, another messenger came, claiming to be the county magistrate and assistant official of Lishi County. Different from the warning letter from Kuitou, this time it was a real message of battle.

"Prefect Xing, is he dead?" Liu Bian couldn't believe it. A letter from Lishi County said that after Xing Ji had settled the refugee matters, he resigned from his position as prefect and planned to leave. However, many officials in Lishi County came to his aid.

When we were seeing him off outside the city, the Xianbei army suddenly arrived. Xing Ji died on the spot among the rebels. More than 20 county officials, large and small, died in Lishi County.

The county magistrate and others were all killed. Then the Xianbei people directly looted the villages near Lishi County. Many Han people were killed and their wives and daughters were robbed.

After the Xianbei people looted the villages, they then began to attack the city. They attacked the city twice. Both times were tests. However, the county magistrate and county lieutenant of Lishi County were both shot. This made the prefect with the highest official position in Lishi County currently.

Biejia. It was this Biejia who sent Liu Bian a letter of distress. He also clearly pointed out that the Xianbei people had begun preparing to attack Lishi County vigorously, and asked Liu Bian to send troops to rescue him quickly.

This letter from Lishi County caused Liu Bian's people to be directly divided into two camps. One party supported the rescue, and the other opposed the rescue. The opposition headed by Han Yi had the majority. Han Yi believed that Zhongyang County was now

Basically, it was difficult to protect itself, and there was no extra energy to rescue Lishi County. The number of refugees in the city increased, and if it was not curbed, there might be worries about mutiny. In order to prevent the plague from arising in the refugee camp, Han Yi deliberately spent a lot of money

Quicklime has caused a shortage of many materials in Zhongyang County.

If it is self-protection, Han Yi feels that there is no exemption, but if he goes to support Lishi County, the back-up food and grass supplies may not be able to keep up. The northern area of ​​Xihe County is suffering from famine due to the locust plague. There are many refugees from various places, and Zhongyang County is the first to bear the brunt. Han Yi

I think that if we still provoke the Xianbei people at this juncture, it will definitely make the matter even more difficult to handle.

Although the main faction headed by Xun Chen had a small number of people, his decision was made up with just one word.

"If we rescue them, the people in Lishi County may not necessarily die. But if we don't rescue them, they will definitely die." Xun Chen didn't make any big claims. He just analyzed the reality so that Liu Bian could see it clearly.

To save Lishi County, under Liu Bian's resolute attitude, Wang Yue took Liu Tong and Liu Xin to mobilize the soldiers.

The army will set off early tomorrow morning, but Liu Bian can't sleep tonight. Thinking about all the things that happened after arriving in Zhongyang County, one thing after another seems to be happening, and Liu Bian can't stop at all.

Bian got up from the bed, got dressed, and walked out. When Liu Bian just closed the door and turned around, Dou Xin came over with several people.

"Greetings to Your Highness." Dou Xin and his party hurriedly saluted, and then he asked: "Is Your Highness not asleep yet?"

Aren't you talking nonsense? If I fell asleep, could you see me now? Have you seen a ghost?

With such thoughts in his mind, Liu Bian smiled and said: "The army will go to Lishi County tomorrow, so I am a little worried."

"Your Highness, don't worry too much. As the saying goes, the troops will block the water and the earth will cover them up. Your Highness's martial arts and talents will definitely defeat the Xianbei army easily." Dou Xin said.

Liu Bian did not answer Dou Xin's words. He looked at the old woman behind Dou Xin with some curiosity. She seemed familiar. He had seen her in the refugee camp during the day. There was another person beside the old woman.

The young man looked about fifteen or sixteen years old and was not very tall. Liu Bian looked unfamiliar. There were two or three people following behind the old woman. They were quite gorgeously dressed and looked like they were wealthy. Now in Zhongyang County

During the comprehensive disaster relief, even Liu Bian rarely wore fancy clothes. At this moment, someone committed a crime against the trend, which made Liu Bian a little unhappy.

After looking at the old woman carefully, Liu Bencai asked: "It's so late, why did you come here?"

"I almost forgot, Your Highness, this is Mrs. Qin, the mistress of the Qin family in Lishi County." Dou Xin introduced Liu Bian slightly, and Ms. Qin stepped forward and saluted slightly and said: "Ms. Qin, a woman from Lishi County, has seen her before.

Your Highness."

Then Dou Xin told the Qin family's reason for coming in detail. It turned out that Mrs. Qin was born in a family of military officers. Her family had been fighting against the Hu people since her grandfather's generation, from her grandfather, to her father, to her husband, to her brothers, nephews, etc.

Almost all the men in the Qin family died in the battles with the Hu people. This time the Xianbei people killed Xingji and attacked Lishi County. One of the Qin family's two sons was killed together with Xingji while working as a county official.

After escorting the refugees to Zhongyang County, she was killed on the way back to Lishi County. For this reason, after Qin learned that Lishi County had sent a letter requesting support to Zhongyang County, she hurried over to help.

It was to support Liu Bian's military operation to rescue Lishi County.

"Now that I heard that His Highness wants to send troops to rescue Lishi County to fight against the Xianbei people, civilian women have come here to donate a thousand catties of iron, a thousand stones of grain and grass, and a thousand taels of gold for military use," said Qin.

"Thank you, madam!" Liu Bian naturally wanted to accept it. To be honest, Zhongyang County's current financial situation is very bad. In order to provide disaster relief, the money that was originally not much was used up in an instant, and then had to use grain to finance farming.

The food over there has not been harvested yet, and the food rewarded by the mind-cultivation system alone cannot last for a few days. Now, the supplies sent by the Qin family can meet the temporary needs.

"The civilian woman has another unkind request." Mrs. Qin said again.

"Madam, please speak." Liu Bian said.

"This is Qin Lang, the only remaining youngest son in the family. He is now sixteen years old. I hope His Highness can take him in and serve in the army." When Qin said this, Liu Bian was obviously stunned.

All the men in the Qin family had died in the battle with the Hu people, and now only their 16-year-old son Qin Lang was left, who had to be sent to the army. Liu Bian suddenly understood that Mrs. Qin

He obviously wanted to fight to the death with the barbarians! With a hint of intolerance in his heart, and even more admiration for Qin's courage and courage, Liu Bian was a little embarrassed, and he didn't speak for a while.

Dou Xin also showed a look of reluctance. The Qin family's wife was known to everyone in Xihe County, and all the loyal members of the family died at the hands of the barbarians. The Qin family supported the family by herself and actively responded to the fight.

The battle between the barbarians can be described as a battle between women and men.
Chapter completed!