Sui and Tang Dynasty Generals

Chapter 72: Serving as the East City Guardian
Inside Yingyang Mansion.

Fu Zihou wore a sword and came to the meeting room of the main generals, where he saw several middle-aged men standing in front of a hanging map.

"General! Captain Fenwu has been brought here!"

The soldiers reported to the middle-aged man who was closest to the map, and then the middle-aged man signaled the soldiers to retreat.

"Captain Fenwu, Fu Zihou! Meet General Pan!"

Seeing this, Fu Zihou knew that the middle-aged man was Pan Changwen, so he raised his hand, bowed his head slightly, and saluted Pan Changwen.

"No need to be polite!"

When Fu Zihou heard Pan Changwen's faint voice, he looked up and put down his hand, then looked at the other people.

"Yu Lin Cavalry Captain! Wen Dayou!"

The first person who raised his hand towards Fu Zihou was Wen Dayou, who was nearly 40 years old, followed by Zhang Gaoping next to him.

"Captain Yingyang, Zhang Gaoping!"

Zhang Gaoping is older than Wen Dayou, and he also has a long beard on his face. His expression gives people a very serious and old-fashioned feeling.

The other people also raised their hands in greeting.

"Xu Shixu, Sima of Yingyang Mansion!"

"Zhao Wenke, Sima of Yingyang Mansion!"

"Liu Zhenghui, Sima of Yingyang Mansion!"

Xu Shixu, Zhao Wenke, and Liu Zhenghui were all officials of Yingyang Mansion. As for the brigade commanders, team leaders, and the like below them, they were not here.

"Fu Zihou, I greet all the gentlemen!"

Fu Zihou raised his hand to salute, and then he heard Pan Changwen's voice.

"I heard that the Fenwu Commander had previously led prisoners in Qinghe County and defeated the rebel Zhang Jincheng?"

Pan Changwen looked at Fu Zihou and asked softly.

Pan Changwen's expression couldn't tell whether he was happy or angry, and when he looked at Fu Zihou, it was hard to tell whether he liked or disliked Fu Zihou.

"At that time, the enemy attacked the city, and we had to fight with the reinforcements for several days. Zihou was able to take advantage of the enemy's fatigue and win by chance. I am ashamed to say this!"

Fu Zihou didn't know Pan Changwen's character, so he spoke modestly.

In history, there are not many records about Pan Changwen. He was only the governor of Taiyuan and the general of Yingyang. On the seventh day of April in the twelfth year of Daye, when Zhen Zhai'er led an army of 100,000 to attack Taiyuan, Pan Changwen was defeated and killed.

"To be able to defeat a thief at such a young age is a young hero! No need to be too modest!"

Pan Changwen looked at Fu Zihou and said, then continued to look at the map and discuss important matters with everyone.

Seeing this, Fu Zihou did not say anything. He stood beside Xu Shixu, Liu Zhenghui and others, looking at the map together.

It was not until this time, looking at the clear and detailed map, that Fu Zihou realized that there were actually two cities in Jinyang, separated by the Fenhe River running from north to south.

Both Jinyang cities are located beside the Fen River. The larger city in front of you is on the west side of the Fen River. It is a big city, also called Longshan City in the past. However, due to the existence of Jinyang Palace, people call it Jinyang City.

Across the river is East City, which is smaller than West City on the map.

The entire Jinyang Liangcheng area is surrounded by mountains on three sides. Whether on the east or west side, there are endless mountains not far away.

However, compared with the East City across the Fenshui River, Fu Zihou discovered that the terrain of the West City was very easy to defend.

To the north of the west city, not far from the walls of Jinyang Palace, is a large lake, where it is impossible to deploy a large number of siege troops.

To the east of the city is the Fen River, to the west is the Longshan Mountains, and to the south, which is the area that I didn't see when I passed by in the carriage just now because I was chatting with Wu Shigui, is surrounded by a swamp with a radius of several miles.

Such a unique geographical location makes this big city almost flawless.

No wonder it has been said since ancient times that Jinyang is difficult to attack and is a strategic location for military strategists, from Zhao Xiangzi defending the city and destroying the Zhi clan, to Liu Kun defending Jinyang city alone for nine years, and countless kings in later generations were afraid of it and ordered it to be demolished.

The big city of West City is truly a strategic location!

On the other hand, look at Dongcheng across the Fen River.

Fu Zihou frowned slightly. Compared with West City, East City seemed like an abandoned city with no strategic arrangements around it.

In the meeting room.

As Pan Changwen discussed the defense of Taiyuan with Wen Dayou, Zhang Gaoping and others, Fu Zihou listened quietly throughout the discussion without interrupting.

After a long time, when the meeting was about to end, Pan Changwen looked at Fu Zihou and said, "Captain Fu!"

"exist!"

Fu Zihou raised his hand in salute.

"From now on, Captain Fu will lead the infantry to defend the East City!"

Pan Changwen gave orders to assign Fu Zihou the affairs and important positions in Yingyang Mansion.

After hearing Pan Changwen's words, Wen Dayou, Zhang Gaoping and others looked at Fu Zihou without saying a word.

Xu Shixu, Zhao Wenke, and Liu Zhenghui also looked at each other silently, and they all understood what Pan Changwen meant.

Whenever there is a battle, whether it is against rebels or marching north to reinforce the border, the infantry suffers the highest casualties, so the infantry captain is also the most dangerous and thankless position.

This is also the reason why there are only two cavalry captains, Wen Dayou and Zhang Gaoping, in the Yingyang Mansion in Taiyuan at present, but there is a vacancy for the infantry captain.

Pan Changwen obviously wants to give Fu Zihou a warning!
Thinking of this, Xu Shixu, Zhao Wenke and Liu Zhenghui all remained silent.

Looking at the young Fu Zihou, they knew that they had no relationship with him. Now Fu Zihou was going to lead the infantry, and the three of them were all Simas, so the chances of contact between them in the future would be very few.

"Here!"

When Fu Zihou heard Pan Changwen's words, he was slightly stunned, but he came to his senses in an instant, raised his hand, and opened his mouth to take over the order.

When Pan Changwen saw Fu Zihou's actions, he nodded with satisfaction and then asked everyone to leave.

Watching Zhang Gaoping and others leave, Fu Zihou also turned around and left the meeting room.

"Lord Wen!"

In the courtyard of Yingyang Mansion, seeing other adults riding on their horses and leaving with their entourage or confidants, Fu Zihou hurried to Wen Dayou's side.

"Captain Fenwu, do you have anything else to do?"

Wen Dayou frowned and looked at Fu Zihou and asked.

Fu Zihou then took out the letter from his bosom and handed it to Wen Dayou. With doubt, Wen Dayou turned over and dismounted, raised his hand to take the letter from Fu Zihou, opened it and read it. His face changed instantly.

"My dear nephew is Mr. Li's grandson-in-law?"

Wen Da looked at Fu Zihou in surprise. He never expected that the young boy in front of him was actually the son-in-law of Mr. Li's grandson.

"Zihou greets Uncle Wen!"

Fu Zihou raised his hand and saluted.

Wen Dayou quickly reached out to help Fu Zihou up, which meant that Fu Zihou didn't need to be polite anymore and turned to look at the meeting room in Yingyang Mansion.

"This is not the place to talk. My dear nephew, please follow your uncle!"

Wen Dayou said, put away the letter, and asked Fu Zihou to go to his residence.

Upon learning that Fu Zihou was Mr. Li's grandson-in-law, Wen Dayi's attitudes were completely different before and after.

soon.

Accompanied by Wen Dayou, Fu Zihou came to the mansion where Wen Dayou lived.

The Wen family is a famous family in Taiyuan, and Wen Dayou has lived in Taiyuan for many years, so the mansion he lives in is a private residence.

in the hall.

As the maid in the mansion left, Wen Dayou looked at Fu Zihou.

"In the early years, the Pan family rose to prominence because of Emperor Wen. After Pan Changwen's father died, he inherited the title and was stationed in Taiyuan. More than a year ago, Liu Long'er gathered people in Lishi County to rebel against the Sui Dynasty. As the general who stayed behind, he was ordered to go and suppress the rebellion. In this battle, many soldiers of Yingyang Prefecture were killed or injured and failed! Last year, Your Majesty was surrounded by the Turkic army in Yanmen, and General Pan led the troops to fight, and many were killed or injured..."

Wen Dayou said to Fu Zihou, then shook his head.

"Pan Changwen is a man of incompetence and jealousy. My nephew has been awarded the title of Fenwu Wei for his meritorious service, and he is so young. Therefore, he wanted to suppress my nephew when discussing the house! Most of the Taiyuan noble families are in the big city west of the Fen River, while most of the people in the East City on the other side are ordinary people and surrounding villagers."

Wen Dayou sighed. If he had known earlier that Fu Zihou was Mr. Li's grandson-in-law, he would have stood next to Fu Zihou in the meeting room, making Pan Changwen hesitate. But it was too late to say anything now, as Fu Zihou had already accepted the order.

"I see!"

Fu Zihou said softly.

Fu Zihou was not a fool. When they were discussing the house, he had vaguely felt that Pan Changwen seemed to have some opinions about him. Now, after hearing what Wen Dayou said, he finally understood the reason.

Since Pan Changwen was an incompetent and jealous person, Fu Zihou knew that it would be impossible to change the fact that he was sent to the other side of the river to guard the East City in a short period of time.

Fortunately, Fu Zihou is not in a hurry at the moment. Just as he thought when discussing the house, there is still a long time to go. He can wait for two months and then find a way to transfer back to Xicheng.

Since he knew that bandits would attack Jinyang in April, Fu Zihou must have felt uncomfortable staying in West City all day, watching the East City on the other side with no strongholds to defend and no defense at all.

Just as Wen Dayou said, most of the people in the East City on the other side of the river are ordinary people and people from the surrounding villages.

Fu Zihou was not from a noble family. He had experienced being surrounded by refugees and had experienced a deep sense of despair in the past.

When he went to Dongcheng, Fu Zihou did not ask for any other merits, but only hoped to do his best to contribute.

Thinking of this, I remembered the map I saw in the meeting room of Yingyang Mansion.

"Uncle Wen! Zihou is going to lead the troops in Dongcheng. He knows nothing about Dongcheng right now. Uncle Wen, do you know how much food and clothing are stored in Dongcheng?"

Fu Zihou looked at Wen Dayou and asked softly.

In order to deal with the rebel army of 100,000 attacking Jinyang City, the stored grain in Dongcheng was extremely crucial.

"As far as I know, most of the weapons and food in Jinyang City are now stored in the West City Warehouse. The East City only stores supplies for the city defense army. As for weapons, there should be no more than 3,000 pieces, and no more than 2,000 bushels of food..."

Wen Dayou thought about it and told Fu Zihou what he knew about the situation in Dongcheng.

"So rare?"

Fu Zihou frowned.

Ten thousand hu of grain is about 600,000 jin of rice and millet, which means that the grain reserves in Dongcheng are only about 120,000 jin of rice and millet.

This sounds like a lot, but in the past, even if a city could hold out against an enemy attack, it would often be surrounded and out of food for months. In such a situation, once the people's stored food was eaten up, the food would not last long.

"Nephew, are you worried that thieves might attack the city?"

Wen Dayou looked at Fu Zihou's solemn expression and quickly guessed what Fu Zihou was thinking, so he couldn't help but smile.

"Zihou dare not hide it from his uncle! Zihou believes that Jinyang has been a strategic location since ancient times. Now that bandits are everywhere, it is inevitable that some bandits will want to seize Jinyang!"

Fu Zihou raised his hand and said.

Originally Fu Zihou thought that after he said this, Wen Dayou would take it more seriously. Unexpectedly, after he finished speaking, he saw Wen Dayou smiling and shaking his head.

"Don't worry, nephew! Have you seen the layout in the meeting room? Jinyang is a place with natural dangers. What can the thieves do? How dare they invade?"

Wen Dayou looked at Fu Zihou and felt that Fu Zihou's worries were self-inflicted. Not to mention that he had led troops in Taiyuan for many years, even the terrain of Jinyang was destined to deter the enemy from attacking.

"In today's world, the thieves are nothing more than bandits!"

In the main hall of the Wen family.

Fu Zihou listened to Wen Dayou's words and stopped arguing.

Nowadays, near Taiyuan County, except for Lishi County to the west, where Liu Long'er has tens of thousands of rebels, there are Sui Dynasty troops stationed in Xihe County and Shangdang County to the south, as well as Loufan County, Mayi County, and Yanmen County to the north.

Before Zhen Zhai'er led his troops to arrive, who would have believed that anyone would dare to attack Taiyuan, which is located in a core area.

Thinking of Wu Shiling and Wu Shigui who came to Jinyang together, Fu Zihou looked at Wen Dayou and told him everything about his encounter with Wu Shigui, especially the people Wu Shigui specifically mentioned on the way.

"It seems that the Wu family is quite interested in my nephew!"

Wen Dayou listened to Fu Zihou's narration and nodded slowly.

Then Wen Dayou told Fu Zihou that what Wu Shigui said was not wrong. In Taiyuan, the three people Wu Shigui mentioned were very important.

Thinking about the suppression that Fu Zihou encountered when he just arrived in Jinyang, Wen Dayou was worried that Fu Zihou would become discouraged.

"As for Pan Changwen, you don't need to worry. I will find an opportunity to tell Pan Changwen about my identity and relationship with the Wen family. Although I can't make Pan Changwen change his mind, you don't need to worry about being suppressed by him in the future. The Wen family still has some reputation in Taiyuan!"

Wen Dayou comforted Fu Zihou and told him not to worry too much about his future career.

"Zihou thanks Uncle Wen!"

Upon hearing this, Fu Zihou raised his hand in gratitude and saluted.

(End of this chapter)