PFC Chapter 106 When the time is right, heaven and earth lend their strength.
Chapter 106 When the time is right, heaven and earth lend their strength.
Li Sheng stood a few steps away, and his heart skipped a beat when he heard those two names.
Zhou Tai, Jiang Qin.
He certainly knew what those two names meant.
This was a fierce general from Jiangdong, a future tiger general under Sun Ce, who later rose to the positions of prefect and general in Eastern Wu.
Zhou Tai fought desperately to protect Sun Quan, showing unwavering loyalty; Jiang Qin was also a brave and skilled warrior, known for his strict discipline.
Now, these two have actually come to join his Taiping army?
Li Shengqiang suppressed his shock and did not step forward to speak, but instead whispered an instruction to the personal guard beside him.
"Write down the names of those two people from earlier, and see how they behave."
The guard nodded and went to deliver the message.
Li Sheng turned and left, but after a few steps, he looked back again.
Zhou Tai was chatting and laughing with Jiang Qin, both of them with expectant expressions on their faces.
He looked away, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him.
It's truly a case of when the time is right, heaven and earth lend their strength.
He started as a village headman, fought several battles, and captured three counties, attracting many heroes to his cause. If his power grows even greater, will even more talented people come to join him?
A sense of anticipation arose in his heart.
Those who are now casting their ballots are all self-made heroes.
People like Zhou Tai and Jiang Qin are classified as military generals in historical records. They are capable of fighting and risking their lives, but when it comes to governing a region and making strategic plans, scholars are still the best choice.
What about those scholars?
Will they come to vote?
Although he knew that his cause was based on peasant uprisings and he no longer expected scholars to join him, he would still accept scholars like Prime Minister Zhuge Liang if they came to join him.
As long as they are acting in the best interests of the people, other things can be done gradually; people can be reformed.
Isn't Chen Yuan just like that?
Although Li Sheng knew that the other party might have opportunistic intentions, wasn't he now working honestly for the people under his command?
What a talent!
Li Sheng rubbed his temples.
This is his biggest weakness right now.
After conquering three counties, the territory increased several times over, and the military strength expanded to six or seven thousand, but the number of capable civil and military officials could be counted on one's fingers.
Liu Wu was good at fighting, but not at civil administration.
Li Feng is steady, but still lacks experience, as is Li Shi.
Needless to say, the others are even less likely to be included.
Siwu County was supported by Wang Qian, the surrendered magistrate, but Wang Qian was ultimately an outsider. He could be used, but not relied upon.
Ultimately, the Taiping Army lacked truly talented individuals.
As Li Sheng walked, he pondered and unknowingly wandered out of the recruitment area.
He stopped and looked up at the sky.
The sun was setting in the west, and the sky was beginning to turn red.
It's been five days.
It has been five days since we captured Siwu.
The situation in Siwu County has basically stabilized. Land redistribution is underway, recruitment has been completed, and the people's emotions have calmed down. News came from Xiaxiang that the situation is similar.
Just then, a fast horse came galloping from afar, its hooves clattering rapidly.
Li Sheng stopped and squinted at the scene.
The rider on horseback was a scout under Li Feng's command, his face covered in dust, clearly having traveled a long distance.
The scout dismounted, knelt on one knee, and presented a silk scroll with both hands.
"General! Urgent news from Xiapi!"
Li Sheng took the silk scroll, unfolded it, and immediately frowned.
The letter was written by Li Feng; the handwriting was messy, clearly indicating that it was written in a hurry.
"General, there has been a disturbance south of Xiapi. Several days ago, the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out in various counties to the south, gaining considerable momentum. Que Xuan, who claims to be a 'messenger of the heavens,' has gathered several thousand followers and has already occupied Qulu, Suiling, Linhuai, and other places, showing signs of sweeping northwards. A large number of refugees are fleeing north and flooding into Xiapi, causing chaos. Que Xuan has sent a messenger to Xiapi, saying that he wants to 'gather for an important matter' and invites the General to a meeting. This matter is of great importance, and I dare not act on my own. I request that the General return to Xiapi immediately to make a decision."
After reading the letter, Li Sheng frowned even more deeply.
Que Xuan?
He vaguely remembered the name.
Historically, there was indeed a man named Que Xuan in Xuzhou who proclaimed himself "Emperor" and gathered thousands of people to start a rebellion. He was later killed by Tao Qian. However, he couldn't quite remember whether it happened at the end of the Zhongping era or the beginning of the Chuping era.
Unexpectedly, this person has already started making moves.
Moreover, they were using the "Yellow Turban" banner.
"Gathering for Important Events"...
Li Sheng pondered these four words, his mind racing.
Is this Que Xuan trying to recruit him? Or is he trying to absorb his power?
In any case, this matter must be dealt with when I get back.
He put away the silk scroll, turned around, and strode towards the county government office.
"Pass down the order: tomorrow morning, the entire army will set off back to Xiapi!"
That evening, Li Sheng summoned his generals in the back hall of the county government office to arrange matters for those who remained behind.
"Liu Lu, Siwu County is your responsibility. Wang Qian will assist you from the side, and you will be in charge of supervising him. Also, send a message to Liu Wu, telling him to guard Xiaxiang well, and the two of you will watch over and help each other."
Liu Lu clasped his hands in acceptance of the order.
"Please rest assured, General!"
Li Sheng waved his hand.
"I'll leave the old soldiers to you, but I'll take the two thousand newly recruited soldiers back with me."
Liu Lu grinned, touched.
"Alright!"
The next morning, Li Sheng led over a hundred veteran soldiers and two thousand new recruits, totaling more than two thousand men, back to Xiapi.
The procession marched along the west bank of the Sishui River, stretching for several miles in a grand and imposing manner.
Li Sheng rode his horse in the middle of the group, occasionally glancing back at the gradually shrinking outline of Siwu County.
The three counties are connected, with the Sishui River running through them.
This is his foundation.
But Que Xuan in the south, the capital in the north, and those powerful and ambitious families that are eyeing him covetously will not allow him to develop peacefully.
The Taiping Rebellion was just beginning. He withdrew his gaze and spurred his horse forward.
……
Just as Li Sheng was marching, news of the Taiping Army's capture of Xiaxiang and Siwu counties spread like wildfire across Xuzhou.
In less than two months, the three counties changed hands.
A village headman started an uprising, gathered thousands of people, captured two cities in succession, distributed land to the people, and the people were treated to a life of plenty.
The news was so shocking that when it first reached the governor's office in Xuzhou, the governor, Baqi, even thought it was a joke.
But as more and more people confirm it, no one can laugh anymore.
Furthermore, even worse news came from Jizhou, making the situation increasingly dire.
The main force of the government army led by Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun confronted the main force of the Yellow Turban army in Jizhou for many days. Not only were they unable to defeat the main force of the Yellow Turban army, they even suffered several major defeats.
When the news reached Xuzhou, people were in turmoil.
Discussions began among the gentry that the Han dynasty's fate was sealed.
The aristocratic families, who had long harbored disloyal intentions, began to take action in secret.
Many people are watching and waiting for the situation to become clearer.
Xiapi was the capital of the state.
The Chen residence.
Chen Gui sat in his study, with a letter that had just arrived from Xiapi County spread out in front of him.
This prime minister of Xiapi was a true figure of power. The Chen family was deeply rooted in Xiapi, with disciples and former officials all over the territory. It was no exaggeration to say that he was the master of Xiapi.
But now, his face was filled with solemnity.
"With the loss of all three counties, the Taiping army has seized control of the Sishui River, cutting off the north and south. What's more troublesome is that my hometown of Huaipu is right under the Taiping army's attack. If they go downstream, they can be at the city gates in a day."
Chen Deng's expression was also not good.
"Father, we must send troops to wipe out this traitor as soon as possible! If we allow him to grow stronger, not only Huaipu, but the entire Xiapi Kingdom will be lost!"