PFC Chapter 329 There is no free lunch in the world
Chapter 329 There is no free lunch in the world
"Ading and the others have returned safely to Huayin City. We can rest assured!"
In Jinyang, Zhang Mo couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief after reading the news from Huayin.
Among the Flying Eagle Teams sent to various places, only the one in Chang'an was in the most difficult conditions. They were short of resources and were exploited by the two Lis. Their base could only be built in the wild mountains and forests. They were usually robbed by the soldiers guarding the city every time they entered or left the city. This time, they encountered a famine and their lives were even more difficult.
"Just come back, just come back!"
Xu Chu breathed a sigh of relief, his expression slightly excited. "I haven't seen my brother in a few years. Now that he's back, I finally don't have to be separated from him anymore. A-Mo, are you planning to go to Hongnong County? Can I come with you?"
Zhang Mo tore up the note and threw it into the trash can, saying, "The two Li brothers have gone to seek refuge with Ma Teng and Han Sui. I suspect Liangzhou will soon make a move. Huayin cannot afford to lose anything. I'm planning to go to Hongnong."
Fa Zheng worriedly said, "Huayin only has 10,000 soldiers and Hedong County has even fewer. If Ma Teng and Han Sui attack separately, I'm afraid they won't be able to resist. It's too dangerous for you to go there. The lord won't agree."
Hearing Fa Zheng's words, Xu Chu's slightly excited expression froze. "Xiao Zhi is right. Otherwise, you should not go. Let Zi Yi lead a group of Golden Eagle Guards."
Zhang Mo shook her head. "Ma Teng and Han Sui have been operating in Liang Province for many years and are formidable. If they truly were to send troops, their purpose wouldn't be to aid Yuan Shao, but to advance and seize Guanzhong, ultimately vying for supremacy. Therefore, they'd bring a significant number of troops. Hedong County only has a garrison of 5,000, let alone Huayin. Gao Shun has recently taken in many refugees to repair Tongguan, consuming a massive amount of food daily. The enemy wouldn't even need to attack the city. Simply send a force to block Fengling Ferry, severing the food supply route from Hedong to Huayin, and the soldiers and civilians within would collapse without a fight."
"If that's the case, you won't be able to accomplish anything if you go there. You can't defeat thousands of troops by yourself like Fengxian did," said Xu Chu.
Zhang Mo said, "I'll try to find some external help for us!"
Seeking external assistance? Fa Zheng raised his eyebrows and asked tentatively, "Sister, are you going to seek help from the Hongnong Yang family?"
Bingzhou is surrounded by enemies almost everywhere. The only external aid Fa Zheng can think of is the Yang family of Hongnong. If they are willing to supply food and grass to Huayin, the problem will be much simpler.
Zhang Mo nodded and said, "Go ask if they can provide us with some food nearby."
"The Yang family and the Yuan family are related by marriage. Will he agree?"
Fa Zheng obviously did not have much hope for this matter. As far as he knew, the Grand Commandant Yang Biao married the aunt of the brothers Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, which meant that Yang Biao was Yuan Shao's uncle. Now Bingzhou was at war with Yuan Shao, and it was unlikely that the Yang family would come to help Lu Bu.
"A distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor. You have to try it out to find out whether you agree or not. When the emperor passed away last time, General Yang was thinking of coming to Bingzhou to establish a new royal family. Now that Yuan Shao is in danger, he knows what to do."
She looked at Fa Zheng and said, "After I leave, Jinyang will be handed over to you and Bo Huai. Be careful of Heishan. I'm afraid Zhang Yan will take advantage of the situation to rob you."
"Why don't you let me go? You stay in Jinyang, sister." Fa Zheng volunteered.
"I have faith in Xiaozhi's abilities, but if you go, the Yang family will think we're not sincere enough. Don't worry, I'll take care of your safety. If you help me keep an eye on Jinyang, it will be a great achievement."
"Yes!"
Fa Zheng nodded in agreement. At this moment, a guard came in from outside and said, "Madam, Zhang Feiyan of Heishan has sent a visiting card, requesting an audience."
"Say Cao Cao Cao Cao has arrived."
Zhang Mo muttered to herself as she took a cardboard note from the guard and took a look at it. It looked familiar. It was the same note she had given to Zhang Yan. She opened it and saw that the words inside were exactly the same, but the guy had just changed the name on it.
"Where is Zhang Yanren?"
"Wait in the meeting room outside."
Zhang Mo stood up and called to Xu Chu and Fa Zheng, "Come on, let's go meet this thief. Maybe he's sending us reinforcements."
…………
In the meeting hall outside the earth building, Zhang Yan sat on a soft chair with a backrest, looking at the layout inside with curiosity like Liu Laolao entering the Grand View Garden.
When he came in just now, he saw that there was a hall on the left. The layout there was like an ordinary living room, with desks and seats, everything was in order.
This room is completely different. The seats here are all four-cornered short-legged chairs as high as desks, covered with soft cushions. Most of them are single seats, and there is also one as long as a couch, which can be used for lying or sitting. It is very soft and comfortable.
There is a long table in the middle of these chairs, with only a pot of green plants on it, which is full of vitality and is very pleasing to the eye in this autumn.
His eyes fell on the wall behind him again, where there was a very large picture hanging, which looked like a map. He walked closer and looked at it carefully until he found the words Taihang Mountains, Bingzhou and Jizhou on it, and then he confirmed that it was a map of the thirteen states of the world.
He looked eastward along the Taihang Mountains, and the more he looked, the more astonished he became. He couldn't help but mutter, "Incredible! Incredible! How much effort will it take to figure out the whole world?"
As he was speaking, he heard footsteps coming from the door, and Zhang Yan hurriedly left the map and sat back in his seat.
Zhang Mo walked in and asked with a smile, "What's the wind blowing that brought Black Mountain Boss here today?"
Zhang Yan stood up and casually bowed as a gesture of greeting, then snorted, "Northwest wind!"
"Northwest wind?" Zhang Mo pretended to be dumbfounded. "Shouldn't that blow to Jizhou? Why is it blowing to Bingzhou?"
"You woman are as shrewd as a fox in Taihang Mountain. How could you not know why I'm here?" Zhang Yan said unhappily.
Zhang Mo spread her hands and said, "The foxes in the mountains might know, but I really don't know!"
Pack!
Zhang Yan couldn't help but grit his teeth and said patiently, "This year there's been a severe famine. All the bandits in Taihang are starving. I'd like to ask the fairy to give me some food. Would you be willing to do so?"
Sure enough!
Zhang Mo's lips curled up into a smile. She walked over to the sofa and sat down, sighing, "This fairy doesn't know any magic, so I can't conjure up so much food to feed your hundreds of thousands of thieves!"
Keep pretending! Bingzhou bought so much grain from everywhere a few months ago. Do you think I'm blind?
It's really hard to make a hero out of a meal! Zhang Yan sighed inwardly, sat down on the cushion, and said, "The Black Mountain tribes really want to become good people. If the fairy has any request, please feel free to ask. As long as it can be done, we will help the fairy without hesitation."
"General Zhang is a wise man. He knows there's no such thing as a free lunch. I really need people here right now. As long as you're not afraid of death and are willing to work hard, you'll naturally have food to eat."
"Tell me, should I help you fight Yuan Shao or Gongsun Zan?" Zhang Yan said straightforwardly.
"How many people and soldiers do you have under your command?"
Speaking of this, Zhang Yan felt unhappy again and snorted, "The people you and Yuan Shao have been fighting over these years are now only about 500,000 strong, with about 100,000 young and strong men."