Chapter 34 Strange Situation

Not all 20,000 troops entered the city, and only about 5,000 troops entered You County. The rest of the troops are stationed outside the city. After all, a county in You County is not enough to station so many troops.

In the county seat of You County, Liu Qi sat on the main seat and Xu Shu sat on both sides.

Liu Qi looked at Huo Jun. Liu Qi was very satisfied with Huo Jun's performance just now. Even Xu Shu looked at him with new eyes. However, Liu Qi is now concerned about the situation of Jiangdong. Liu Qi asked directly without talking nonsense, "General Huo, what has Jiangdong been doing during this period?"

Huo Jun got up and said, "General, Jiangdong has not made any action during this period. Usually, Jiangdong often sends people to harass him, but during this period, it is suddenly very quiet. You County has not been harassed, and Jiangdong is also extremely calm."

Liu Qi was a little puzzled and said, "You mean that Jiangdong often harassed You County before, but there was no action during this period?"

Huo Jun nodded and said, "Yes."

Liu Qi couldn't figure it out. Since he often harassed him, how could he suddenly stop? It was Huo Jun who knew about Jiangdong's situation here. Liu Qi then asked, "General Huo, do you know why Jiangdong suddenly stopped harassing You County?"

Huo Jun shook his head: "I don't know that Jiangdong has stopped disrupting You County for the first time in recent years." Huo Jun has been in You County for nearly three years. In the past three years, Jiangdong will carry out tentative attacks on You County from time to time. He has been used to dealing with Jiangdong's army, and recently suddenly stopped attacking You County. Huo Jun was a little uncomfortable. Although he didn't know what had happened in Jiangdong, he still secretly strengthened his guard.

Seeing that Liu Qi couldn't ask anything, he turned the topic to Zhang Xian: "How many troops were there in You County? How much is left now?"

Huo Jun did not hide and replied, "There were 5,000 soldiers and horses in You County. Since Zhang Xian's rebellion, 3,500 people have been transferred. At this time, there are still 1,500 people left in You County."

"Oh, why didn't Zhang Xian say that you should also transfer together? And I will leave you behind." Liu Qi was a little curious. Since Zhang Xian was determined to fight to the death with him in Linxiang, why did Huo Jun leave 1,500 people behind?

Huo Jun smiled and said, "This 1,500 people used to be my private soldier. Later, when I followed my brother to join the state herdsman, it has always been under my command. Zhang Xian can't believe me. He is afraid that once I rebel at a critical time, he will simply stay here hoping to use the hand of Jiangdong to deal with me."

Liu Qi was a little surprised. He knew that the family had their own private soldiers, but he didn't expect that there were so many private soldiers. According to this calculation, Jingzhou's army is much more than it is now. According to the highest standard of ten to one, how to raise so many troops in Jingzhou, even according to the current standard of fifteen to one in Jingzhou, it is not enough.

How does Liu Qi know that those families often send people from their families as local officials. When reporting the number of people, they will underreport part of it. In this way, the final population is much less than the actual population. This is the source of the private soldiers' salary of the family.

"Do you know how many troops Zhang Xian has mobilized?" After all, Huo Jun has known much more about Changsha than them for nearly three years. He and Xu Shu speculated that Xiangyang has nearly 30,000 troops, but Liu Qi wants to know the exact number.

Huo Jun thought for a moment and silently calculated in his heart, "From my inference, there are at least 35,000 soldiers and horses."

"So many, why are there so many soldiers and horses in Changsha?" Liu Qi was a little surprised. He knew that there were only 20,000 soldiers and horses in ordinary counties. Xu Shu's inferred that 30,000 was already very high. He didn't expect that it would exceed this number.

Huo Jun analyzed: "The first Changsha County is adjacent to Jiangdong, with more soldiers and horses than ordinary counties. The second Jingxiang area has not been in war for a long time, so it is richer than other counties, and there will naturally be more people. In fact, there are more soldiers and horses in Jingxiang than in other places.

At this time, Liu Qi really understood the wealth around Jingxiang, and knew why Liu Bei would choose Jingzhou as his land of Longxing later.

Jingzhou was the richest place in the country during the Three Kingdoms period, and Liu Biao was a city guard and was not good at expanding his power. In addition, there are very few wars in Jingzhou, and there has been almost no war in the more than 20 years since Liu Biao unified Jingzhou. During this period, Sun Jian attacked Xiangyang and died in Xiangyang. The rest, like Zhang Xiu, did not attack Jingzhou at all, which was of little harm to Jingzhou. With the cumulative population of Jingxiang, food is the first in the country.

Liu Qi's face was a little solemn. There were only 20,000 people on his expedition this time, and the victory of 30,000 is still unknown. Fortunately, Xu Shu helped him, otherwise Liu Qi really didn't know how to quell the rebellion.

Looking at Huo Jun in front of him, calm and rational. Liu Qi felt that this person was worth cultivating and asked, "I'll give you 3,000 soldiers and horses. Are you sure to defend You County?" Three thousand people plus the original 1,500 people, which is Liu Qi's limit.

Huo Jun's mind can't turn around. Liu Qi actually continued to let him be stationed in You County. He was ready to go home. It was agreed not to be investigated, which was not to investigate his betrayal of Liu Biao, but he speculated that even if he was not investigated, he would not be an official. Unexpectedly, Liu Qi would let him continue to be stationed here. He immediately replied, "I must guard this place for the general and not put a soldier."

"Brother Pan." Liu Qi lowered his head and shouted.

Gan Ning and others were a little surprised. Did Liu Qi remember this wrong? When they left, Liu Pan and Liu Xiu were left behind and did not follow. Xu Shu, who was only on one side, smiled and didn't say anything.

A person from the bodyguard behind Liu Qi came out and came to Liu Qi with some embarrassment and said, "Brother, do you know it? I just want to go to the battlefield with my eldest brother. It's boring to stay in Xiangyang. After saying that, he lowered his head and waited for Liu Qi's hair to fall.

"This, are you Mr. Liu Pan?" Ma Zhong was most surprised. He didn't expect that Liu Pan was hiding under his hands, but he didn't find it.

The others also shook their heads. Obviously, they didn't expect Liu Pan to appear here.

Liu Qi looked at Liu Pan and shook his head. He knew Liu Pan's personality, but he didn't expect that he would be mixed with the bodyguards. If he hadn't found out that he didn't know it the day before yesterday.

Liu Pan's skin was dark at this time, and there were many scratches on his body. It was Liu Pan, the former rich man. Liu Qi looked a little distressed. These days, Liu Pan is training like a bodyguard. He also travels a hundred miles a day, and who is on the ground. Such determination is rare for a person with beautiful clothes and food.

Liu Qi laughed and scolded, "You boy, I knew you wouldn't be honest."

Liu Pan raised his head and smiled, "Brother, didn't you blame me?"

Liu Qi shook his head and said, "If I blamed you for driving you back long ago, how could I keep you until now?"

Liu Pan laughed. Although Liu Qi has been very strict with him since he was a child, he would not really punish him every time.

Liu Qi turned his head and said to Huo Jun, "General Huo, this is my second brother. He will lead 1,500 soldiers and horses to stay and help you defend You County. From today on, he is your deputy general.

"Ah, brother, do you want me to stay here? I want to go to the battlefield with you. Huo Jun hasn't said anything yet. Liu Pan has already shouted aside.

"Don't underestimate this matter. We will attack Zhang Xian, which is our rear. If it falls into Jiangdong's hands, we will be very passive. Therefore, this place is very important to us. I don't think it will be long before Jiangdong will come back to attack this place. You don't have to worry about no war. General Huo is the general here. You should learn more from him. I will leave Ji Chang to help you." Liu Qi persuaded. Leaving Liu Pan is not only to train him, but also to let him monitor Huo Jun. After all, Huo Jun has just surrendered. Liu Qi will not say that the rear will be handed over to outsiders unless he has to. Ma Liang was cautious when he was on the side, and Liu Qi was also relieved.

Liu Pan knew that he could not go to Linxiang this time, so he had to salute Huo Jun: "See the general."

"Ha ha, the general doesn't have to be polite." Of course, Huo Jun knew Liu Qi's intention to leave Liu Pan, but he didn't care about it at all. He knew his own situation that Liu Qi was particularly grateful to continue to serve as a general in his current capacity. It's understandable that Liu Qi is not worried about him. If you do it yourself, you will do the same.

When Liu Qi saw that they finished the ceremony, he looked at Ma Liang and said, "Ji Chang, you are the military Sima, and mention Pandi on the side." After saying that, he looked at Liu Pan and said, "Ji Chang's words are my words. If you let me know that you don't listen to Ji Chang's words, I will let you go back to Xiangyang."

Liu Pan said solemnly, "Brother, don't worry, it won't cause trouble to you."

Ma Liang also got up and thanked, "Thank you, lord." Ma Liang is very grateful to Liu Qi. If it hadn't been for Liu Qi, he would still have nothing to do at home. At the beginning, he defected to many people, but no one accepted him, but Liu Qi accepted him and reused him. Although Jun Sima is a small official, now Liu Qi is the general himself, and Jun Sima has a good status under Liu Qi.

Wu Xiong's eyes flashed. He had long persuaded his eldest brother to join Liu Qi, but the eldest brother had been hesitating. Now Zhao Lei and Ma Liang, who defected to Liu Qi, have been trained by Liu Qi as cronies. In time, they must be important figures under Liu Qi. There are more and more capable people around Liu Qi. Wu Xiong is anxious, but it is not easy to question the eldest brother's decision. He can only keep silent and think about how to persuade the eldest brother to go to Liu Qi.

Liu Qi took her eyes without a trace. For Gan Ning, Liu Qi naturally hoped that he could join his own command, but Gan Ning was cautious and never made a statement. Although Su Fei had a good impression on him, he listened to Gan Ning in everything. Wu Xiong's mind is the most active. Liu Qi has put the weight of recovering Gan Ning on him. However, he is not in a hurry. Now there are Ma Zhong, Xu Shu and others around him for the time being.

Shortly after Liu Qi entered You County, the spies arranged by Zhang Xian in You County had reported the situation of Liu Qi's army to Zhang Xian.