The shaft of the carriage headed west.
The Zhuge family withdrew from the battle for the prefect.
Zhuge Xuan felt uneasy and worried.
Liu Biao had the intention to swallow River East. If he withdrew like this, he would not be able to give an explanation.
At the same time, Zhu Hao and Ze Rong had the intention to kill him, and he didn't know how many hardships he would face on his way back to Jing State.
Two days.
They had already passed Shangliaojin and entered the Haiying region.
Nothing bad happened along the way, and the county was terrifyingly peaceful.
Night fell.
The carriage stopped in the middle of Jiuling Mountain.
Zhuge Liang bit the corn pancake that had been baked until it was dry, his eyes full of resentment.
"Kong Ming."
Zhuge Jin was extremely worried.
Zhuge Liang shook his head and said in disappointment,""Elder brother, I've thought it through these past few days. We've become the knives in Liu Biao's hands. He wants to interfere in River East, so we're his chess pieces!”
"Yes, I am."
Zhuge Jin sighed.
Zhuge Liang sneered,"Brother, do you think Liu Biao will take the opportunity to ask Liu Pan, who is stationed in You County, to send troops if Uncle doesn't retreat and dies in the battle for the position of prefect?"”
"Gulp."
Zhuge Jin and Zhuge Jun were both shocked.
Frightened?
No, it should be fear.
If everything was as Zhuge Liang said.
The development of the matter might go according to the predetermined route.
Only when Zhuge Xuan died would Liu Biao have an excuse to send troops to Yuzhang and attack Zhu Hao.
"Heh."
Zhuge Xuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry." Then, from what you're saying, doesn't Uncle have to thank the Red Cliff Army? If they hadn't taken Haiying, I would have really wanted to compete with Zhu Hao for the position of prefect."”
"Is that so?"
Suddenly, laughter came from the mountains.
"Who is it?"
Zhuge Xuan's expression changed drastically.
Zhuge Jin immediately drew his sword and shielded his two younger brothers.
"Governor Zhuge."
Liao Hua led the army out of the forest and said with a solemn expression,""My lord has invited you, especially this little brother Zhuge Liang.”
"Zhu Hao?"
Zhuge Xuan gritted his teeth.
Zhuge Liang shook his head and frowned,""Uncle, if Zhu Hao wanted to kill us, he would have died in Nan Chang. This place isn't far from Hai Hun, so he should be the leader of the Red Cliff Army.”
Liao Hua praised,"As expected of the person praised by the Lord. He is so intelligent and close to demons at such a young age!"”
"How about not going?"
Zhuge Xuan cautiously probed.
"Hey."
Liao Hua pointed at the trees and said,""If we don't go, the trees on the Nine Ridge Mountain lack nutrients. The corpses can fatten a few hundred-year-old trees!”
"Decisive in killing."
Zhuge Xuan said with a complicated expression.
"Please."
Liao Hua extended his hand in invitation.
"Are you satisfied?"
Zhuge Jin slapped the back of Zhuge Liang's head.
"Hmm?"
Zhuge Liang was confused.
Zhuge Jin glanced at the surrounding forest and said helplessly,""There are at least a hundred elite soldiers in this wilderness, and many of them have their bows aimed at you. This Red Cliff Army commander seems to value you more than his uncle.”
"Me?"
"I'm just a little too smart."
Zhuge Liang rubbed the back of his head and said.
"Let's go."
Zhuge Xuan looked at his three sons and nephews and said helplessly,""It's a blessing, not a curse. If it's a curse, we can't avoid it. It's good to meet this general.”
"Here."
The Zhuge brothers agreed.
At dawn.
The carriage had already arrived at Haiying City.
The people who woke up early had already started to work in the fields.
Zhuge Liang lifted the curtains of the carriage and looked at the people who were not afraid of the soldiers. He frowned and said,"It's only been a few days, but you've already gained the approval of the people?”
"No, I haven't."
Liao Hua rode on his horse.
Zhuge Liang pointed at the people passing by and asked,""General, these people are not afraid of you at all. Isn't this recognition?”
"Hmm?"
Liao Hua scratched his head and explained," My lord said that this is numbness. The people here have been exploited by the Liu Clan for too long. If we were to rule over Hai Hun and the others, they would not have any objections. To them, it's just a change of exploiter. It's already not bad that they are still alive!”
"Exploit?"
Zhuge Liang tilted his head and pondered.
It was the first time he had heard such a term in many years.
"Isn't that right?"
Liao Hua said calmly," The despots plunder the fields, and the aristocrats enslave the people. They deprive the people of their lives and trample on their dignity. The existence of the Red Cliff Army is to let the people live in this world with dignity and not allow others to trample on them!”
"An ancient fallacy."
Zhuge Xuan said angrily.
Liao Hua raised his eyebrows and asked,"Governor Zhuge has been in office for a year. Do you know how much the grain tax is for the people of Haihun?"”
"Eh?"
Zhuge Xuan was speechless.
Liao Hua said indifferently," The average person in Haihun has less than half an acre of fertile land. The grain tax is fifteen to one, and the Ding tax is five hundred. Every year, the Liu Clan will levy corvee to build the Wu Fort in Shangliaojin. Our Red Cliff Army has occupied the city for a few days, but we have never issued a notice, nor have we collected any taxes. We have robbed the people!”
"500 yuan for the third tax."
Zhuge Xuan's heart sank.
Liao Hua's words were like a knife stabbing into his heart.
The average person had less than half an acre of fertile land, and they had to pay heavy grain taxes and Ding taxes. This was not just exploitation.
"Governor?"
"Ridiculous."
Liao Hua sneered and rode his horse to lead the way.
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