Chapter 29: Time and fate
Half a month later, news came from Xiapi that Han Xian and Yang Feng's troops had defected before the battle. Yuan Shu's army was caught off guard, so Zhang Xun was defeated and fled. Later, Lu Bu joined forces with the two men and marched by land and water, chasing them to Li Shouchun.
Zhongli was only two hundred miles away, and Zhang Xun brought only ten soldiers and horses.
After Liu, Guan, and Zhang heard the battle report, they were all stunned. Lan Tian's analytical skills were simply amazing.
"Brother, since Lan Ziyu has a great talent, why don't you go and ask for it personally? We just lack someone who can make plans." Guan Yu added.
Liu Bei shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Brother, I already invited you last time, but Lantian said that he wanted to stay in the countryside to fulfill his filial piety. How can I force him?"
"Brother is right, that guy is too rude, but he is really good at cooking. When will we go to Ganjiazhuang again?" Zhang Fei asked.
"Madam has been in the city recently, how can we go there rashly? But last time I left a message, the quilt mentioned the military situation, and I wanted to invite him to drink..." Liu Bei said.
"A gentleman keeps his promise and never breaks his promise to others. Brother, I will prepare a few more jars of wine now." After Zhang Fei finished speaking, he left in a hurry.
After Zhang Fei left, Guan Yu saw Liu Bei's sad face, and then comforted him: "Brother, there is no need to worry. Although Lan Ziyu is unwilling to be recruited for the time being, he has a close relationship with his sister-in-law after all. As long as he persuades his sister-in-law to ask for advice, he wants to come."
I shouldn’t refuse..."
After hearing this, Liu Bei turned around and looked at Guan Yu in surprise, and said happily: "My second brother's words are like clearing the clouds and seeing the sun. I will go and call my wife, and we will go to Ganjiazhuang to invite Ziyu to drink."
At this time, Ganjiazhuang was sowing seeds, and Lantian, as an agricultural technical consultant, stayed in the fields for a long time under the scorching sun.
"Husband, look, Ziyu is right there." Gan Qian pointed to Lantian not far away and said.
Due to the hot weather, Lan Tian was wearing a straw hat, a linen shirt on his upper body, and rolled up trousers on his lower body. He stood barefoot in the field and pointed, and his appearance was no different from that of an ordinary farmer.
After being called over by Gan Qian, this guy didn't feel uncomfortable even though he was covered in dirt.
"Brother, is dad at home?" Gan Qian asked.
"He is enjoying the cool weather at home. What are the generals..." Lan Tian asked when he saw Zhang Fei holding the wine jar in his arms.
Zhang Fei said: "Big brother said I would treat you to a drink last time, now I am here to fulfill my promise. When will you go back?"
Lan Tian looked up and down, wondering if he was just here for a meal, right? There wasn't much meat in the house right now.
He patted the dust on his hands and said: "Sister, you and the three generals go back and rest first. I will go to the river to wash up and then come back."
"Hey, remember to put on your shoes and be careful not to step on thorns..."
"I can't spare it..."
Looking at Lan Tian's retreating back, Liu Bei shook his head and said with a smile: "You are a little unruly brother..."
"My brother is very fond of farming, and he is still cultivating new grain varieties. I don't know what is going on in his head..." In Gan Qian's opinion, Lantian's talent and learning are enough to make a comfortable living, so there is no need.
Do this bad thing again.
"Otherwise, Mencius said: the people are the most valuable, the country is the second most important, and the king is the least important. Ziyu is passionate about farming, and his original intention is to feed the people. This is a great kindness, and it is difficult for the world to be like him..." Liu Bei praised.
Seeing Liu Bei praising Lan Tian, Gan Qian wanted to say something polite, but Zhang Fei interrupted and said: "Brother, sister-in-law, the sun is too hot on the road here, let's go home quickly, Ziyu is still waiting for the wine in my arms.
..."
How could Liu Bei not know what Zhang Fei meant, so he shook his head and smiled: "Okay, okay, second brother, third brother, let's go..."
Lan Tian washed off the mud on his legs by the river, then put on his cool hemp shoes and walked home. The villagers who were busy sowing seeds along the way greeted him and said hello. These simple farmers respected Lan Tian from the bottom of their hearts.
Because there is less rain during summer sowing, water must be diverted for irrigation. Lantian has used many scientific methods from later generations to save time and effort on irrigation. Now everyone no longer needs to send out the whole family.
Back home, Gan Qian was already preparing meals. At this time, the fresh meat sent by Zhuang Ke had been consumed. Some of the meat that could not be eaten was marinated and stored in a cool shelter.
Although the shelter is used for evacuations, Ganji often goes there to cool off due to the hot summer weather.
"Father, although it's cool in the shelter, you still have to put on clothes to go out, otherwise the cold will easily enter your body..." Lan Tian said.
"What Tian'er said is a good idea. I'll just listen to you. You see, Xuande has kept his promise to treat you to a drink." While Ganji was talking, Zhang Fei had already opened the wine jar.
There was no distillation technology in this era. The main raw materials for brewing were fruits and whole grains. The alcohol brewed through primitive fermentation had a relatively low alcohol content and was turbid when poured into a bowl. It was a happy encounter with a pot of turbid wine, so Mr. Zhang made it
It's like drinking juice.
Zhang Fei drank three of the six jars of wine that were carried on horses.
There was little wine and not much food, so the meal was eaten quickly.
Lantian found that Liu Bei was quite calm and thought he would ask something. But it turned out that this guy was inviting everyone to drink and eat. After the meal, he rested for a while and then took everyone back to Xiaopei, as if he really just came to have a drink.
.
Looking at Lan Tian's confused look, Ganji sighed: "Xuande is too kind. Although we people like it very much, it's a pity that it is difficult to have a place in this troubled world..."
"It's time and destiny, he will have a chance..." Lan Tian said meaningfully.
Ganji was excited when he heard this. This kid always said something amazing. Could it be that Liu Xuande could soar into the sky?
"By the way, foster father, did Miss Lu say anything before she left last year? Why haven't I heard from her even after I sent souvenirs several times in the past six months? Even General Gao didn't send back a word. It's really strange.
Yeah." Lan Tian said.
"Ahem, how did I know this? She is a lady from an official family, and you are the son of a farmer. After all, there is still a huge difference in status. I think you are quite old. Xuande is well-informed. I will ask him to tell you later.
Dear." Ganji sent Lu Lingqi away last year and did not tell Lan Tian clearly that he planned to use time to kill the relationship between the two. Now it seems that things have backfired.
"Father, what are you talking about? I'm still young, so don't bother General Liu..." Lan Tian quickly refused.
His concept of marriage is still stuck in the old world, and he thinks that no one would marry a wife in his teens.
"Young? This man won't be able to settle down until he has a family. You don't have to worry about this matter. Your sister and I will help you make the decision." Ganji said seriously.
What do you mean I don't need to worry about it? Or should I marry a wife? Besides, I'm only nineteen years old now...
Because of Ganji's words, Lu Lingqi not only gave up the pursuit of happiness, but also took the initiative to cut off contact with Xiaopei. The local products sent by Lantian were eventually stored in Gao Shun's camp. She also asked Gao Shun not to contact Xiaopei.
.
After Lu Bu defeated Yuan Shu, Han Siam and Yang Feng followed him back to Xuzhou and stationed troops on the outskirts of Xiapi. Because of the continuous wars in Xuzhou for years and the occasional natural disasters, the shortage of military rations had always been Lu Bu's shortcoming.
Although the Chen family in Xiapi has a rich background, they did not go all out to support Liu Bei like Mi Zhu did. Instead, they kept Lu Bu hungry like an eagle.
Lu Bu withheld part of the military supplies obtained from the defeat of Yuan Shu, and distributed the rest to Han Xian and Yang Feng. However, because there were more troops stationed in Xuzhou at this time, each battalion was faced with the dilemma of not having enough to eat, and food shortages could easily lead to mutiny.
Therefore, Gaoshun's city defense is under great pressure.
Chapter completed!