Chapter 622: Southern Commander's Office

In Xiabian City, in the prefect's mansion, Li Jing explained to everyone the four major commander mansions established by Qin in Xiliang. Only then did everyone know that Qin had such an existence in Xiliang and had 20,000 troops. Although his strength was not known, the number was really here. You should know that Qin had only 50,000 troops in the entire eight counties of Xiliang, but there were 20,000 troops in just one southern commander mansion, and these 20,000 people were not included in the 50,000 elite troops. In other words, Qin actually had about 70,000 troops in the eight counties of Xiliang, and his strength was actually almost the same as that of Deng's army. After Li Siye's western army passed through the two battles between Baoxi Road and Mei County, the remaining troops were only more than 70,000.

"Who is the southern commander's name now?" Li Siye asked. After talking for so long, they don't know what the southern commander's name is in Lintao City.

"Since the establishment of the Southern Duwei Mansion in Lintao City, the Southern Duwei has been the descendants of the famous pre-Qin general Sima Cuo. It has been seven generations so far. This generation of Southern Duwei is named Sima Shang." Li Jing said.

"Sima Cuo's descendants? I just don't know how capable Sima Cuo is now!" Li Siye smiled and said, Sima Cuo was a famous general in the pre-Qin period. He served in the pre-Qin King Huiwen, King Wu of Pre-Qin, and King Zhaoxiang of Pre-Qin. It can be said that, in addition to not experiencing the era of Qin Shihuang, Sima Cuo almost went through the entire process of Qin's rise to prosperity, and left a deep mark, destroying Shu, defeating Wei and defeating Chu, and had great military achievements. It can be said that Sima Cuo was absolutely indelible for the reason why Qin was able to unify the six kingdoms.

"It's hard to say how good Sima Shang is to be Sima Shang is, but he still has the ability. After all, Qin has been working hard to weaken the strength of the Southern Duwei Mansion in recent years. It's really not easy for him to support it until now." Li Jing smiled and said.

Although the Southern Duwei Mansion exists in Qin State like a prince, it is far inferior to the princes. At least, the Southern Duwei Mansion has no land. When Qin State established the four major Duwei Mansions. Although the Southern Duwei Mansion is located in Lintao, the officials in Lintao were appointed by the Qin court, and have no relationship with the Duwei Mansion at all. Moreover, the land in Lintao does not have a share of the Duwei Mansion. This is also an important reason for the decline of the Duwei Mansion in the west, east and north. The reason why the Southern Duwei Mansion can survive until now is entirely due to the transfusion of the Sima family.

"Well, we will go to Lintao City in a few days and consider the strength of Sima Cuo's descendants!" Li Siye said.

"Here!" everyone responded.

At the same time, in the southern Duwei Mansion of Lintao City, Sima Shang, the southern Duwei Mansion of Qin, was discussing the movements of Deng's army with his generals. He said that they were all his tribe members. In addition to strong support for the Duwei Mansion in the early days, Qin State began to weaken the strength of the Duwei Mansion after he settled down, so that he had no ability to be willing to serve the Duwei Mansion. So now, all the operations of the Duwei Mansion rely on the Sima family's tribe members.

"The Duwei, the Deng army has taken over the entire Wudu County. I believe it will be attacked Longxi County in a short time, and I, Lintao, are the first to be the brunt of it. My Duwei Mansion now has only 10,000 people, and all kinds of food, grass and supplies are not complete, so I can't stop the Deng army at all. Do you think we will send people to Guzang for help?" said Sima Jun.

Sima Shang, who was sitting in the main seat, had a sad face. Although the Southern Duwei Mansion claimed to have 20,000 troops, in fact, after reducing the assistance of the Qin State, the operation of the Duwei Mansion was entirely dependent on the Sima family. However, the Sima family had limited financial resources and had no way to maintain an army of 20,000. In the end, after repeated cuts, only 10,000 people were left, but they still failed to get out of the predicament, but they dared not continue to reduce, because the people of the Sima family knew very well that the Qin court had long regarded the Southern Duwei Mansion as a thorn in the side and was thorn in the flesh. If the Southern Duwei Mansion had not been obedient and preserved considerable strength, it would have been liquidated by Chang'an long ago.

"Can Guzang support us? Ma Zhi probably hoped that this commander would die?" Sima Shang said bitterly. When the former Qin court was still in Guzang, the Sima family fought with the Qin court. After Qin moved its capital to Chang'an, the mountains were high and the emperor was far away, so he could not control Lintao. Therefore, the Sima family had been fighting with Ma Zhi, who controlled the troops of Xiliang, and had already formed an incomprehensible hatred between them. Moreover, Qin had long had the intention of establishing the Southern Commander's Mansion. Now he could use the hands of Deng's army to remove the Southern Commander's Mansion, and he did not have to bear the charge of innocent murder of meritorious officials. Why not do it? At this time, Sima Shang felt that Ma Zhi would not pay attention to him at all.

"Master, you have to try it. Lintao City is the gateway to Longxi County. Once Lintao City can't be defended, Longxi County will be opened. Even though Ma Zhi had a marriage with my southern Duwei Mansion, Ma Zhi wouldn't have been sitting there to watch Deng Jun enter Xiliang, right?" Sima Jun said.

Sima Shang thought for a while, and then said to the middle-aged man sitting aside, "Uncle San, please go to Guzang in person and tell Ma Zhi that it is not the grudge between me and him now, but the life and death of the country. I hope he can take the overall situation into consideration!"

The middle-aged man was Sima Shang's third uncle, Sima Lin. Sima Lin bowed and replied: "Here!"

After arranging Sima Lin to Guzang, Sima Shang said to another general Sima Tai: "Sima Tai, my Duwei Mansion has not much food and supplies. Let's not talk about whether Ma Zhi will come to save us. Even if he really comes, he is not as fast as Deng's army, so we must make all preparations. You can send people out of the city immediately to buy grain from the people outside the city."

"Here!" Sima Tai replied.

"Sima Jun!" Sima Shang said to Sima Jun again.

"The last one is here!" Sima Jun responded.

"Gu Zhou, the magistrate of Lintao County, is not the same as us. To avoid any accidents, you will immediately send someone to control him and all the officials in Lintao City. Remember, don't hurt people's lives!" Sima Shang asked Sima Jun to control all the officials in Lintao City.

The reason why Sima Shang did this was that he had his own little thoughts. The reason why the Southern Duwei Mansion gradually declined was that there was no stable source of money and grain. It was not possible to rely on the Sima family's blood transfusion alone. After all, the Sima family did not belong to a chaebol family and had limited strength. So Sima Shang wanted to take advantage of the Deng army to control Lintao City in one fell swoop. With a city, the Sima family would be much less pressure. After all, Lintao City is rich in the entire Xiliang. In this way, as long as the Deng army can be blocked, Lintao City will be the Sima family after the Deng army retreats.

Similarly, the Deng army was strong and difficult to stop. Sima Shang also had the intention to surrender, but if he wanted to surrender, he had to have capital. The 10,000 troops in the Southern Duwei Mansion were capital, but it was too small. It would be different if there was a Lintao City added.

"Here!" Sima Jun responded.

"Okay, you all go down to do things. Deng Jun will arrive soon. We can't fight a war that is not sure." Sima Shang saw that the tasks were all arranged, so he asked everyone to go down.

"Here!"

After everyone left, Sima Shang looked at the blue sky and murmured: "The storm is coming!"

In the fourth year of Tiantong, on the ninth day of the eighth month, Li Siye led a large army to the Qiangdao City. Under the leadership of the Naiqian tribe, he crossed the Qiang River and headed straight for Lintao City.

On August 13, the fourth year of Tiantong, Deng's army was less than fifty miles away from Lintao City. At this time, Lintao City was already on high alert. Sima Shang had already controlled the entire Lintao City ten days ago. Now Lintao City is full of people from the Sima family. After fully controlling Lintao City, Sima Shang used the money and grain he obtained to expand another 3,000 people, but these three thousand soldiers were all new recruits. After simple training, he could only barely defend the city.

"Sima Jun, where has Deng Jun been?" Sima Shang asked Sima Jun on the top of Lintao City.

Sima Jun replied: "When returning to the commander, Deng's army has passed Wangqu Valley and is less than fifty miles away from Lintao City!"

At this time, Sima Tai walked up to the city wall, came to Sima Shang, and said, "Guowei, Uncle San is back!" As soon as he finished speaking, Sima Lin quickly walked up to the city wall, with a smile on his face.

"How is Uncle San?" Sima Shang asked.

Sima Lin smiled and said, "Fortunately, Ma Zhi agreed to send troops to support him. He also sent the most elite Qiang cavalry under his command, led by his eldest son Ma Zun, and you can arrive in Lintao City within two days!"

"Qiang clan? It's great, Lintao is saved!" Sima Tai and Sima Jun were very excited. They have heard of the name of Qiang clan's roster too many times. This is the ace of the Ma clan, the Qiang, the Xiongnu, the Xianbei, and the Wuhuan people have all suffered losses under their iron hooves, and they are quite strong.

Only Sima Shang had a expressionless face and looked thoughtful. After a long time, Sima Shang said to everyone: "Sima Tai, Sima Jun, you two stay at the top of the city. Uncle San, you go back to the house with me, I have something to discuss with you."

"Here!" everyone responded.

After returning to the Duwei Mansion, Sima Shangping withdrew everyone, and then asked Sima Lin with a serious look on his face: "Uncle San, do you think that with the strength of our Duwei Mansion, can we repel Deng's army?"

Sima Lin first paused, then shook her head with a wry smile, and said, "How can we repel the Deng army? You must know that the Deng army has an army of 70,000 to 80,000, and there are countless famous generals in the army. How can we resist the Southern Commander's Office? Not to mention our Southern Commander's Office alone, even if we add the upcoming Qiang cavalry, we may not be able to do it."

"Since that's the case, why should we die for Ying Qin?" Sima Shang said with a cold look.

"What did you say!" Sima Lin was surprised when she heard Sima Shang's words, pointed at Sima Shang and said, "Prince, are you planning to surrender?"

Sima Shang nodded and said, "That's right, I'm just thinking!"

"Minister, it must not be. Our Sima family has been a Qin general for generations and has been deeply favored by the country. We must not do anything to treason the country and surrender to the enemy, which will bring shame to our ancestors!" Sima Lin hurriedly dissuaded that the Sima family has always been a general of the Qin State since Sima Chou, and is also considered a veteran general of the Qin State. Although it is not very loyal, it also has a sense of family and country.

"What's wrong?" Sima Shang's expression became ferocious and he said gritted his teeth: "My Sima family has never let Ying Qin down since his ancestors, but how did Ying Qin treat us? I remember that Ying Qin was driven out of Guanzhong by Chu Xiangyu and forced to come to this bitter and cold place. If it weren't for our Sima family, how could Ying Qin be firmly in Wudu County, Longxi County, and Jincheng County? But he had to kill the donkey. The reason why our Sima family fell to such a level was Ying Qin's fault. Now that Guanzhong is besieged by Deng's army, Xiliang also faces the invasion of Deng's army. Lintao City cannot be defended at all and does not surrender. Do you want me to sacrifice the lives of all the Sima family members to Ying Qin for his country?"

Sima Lin was a little moved. Sima Shang was right. The Sima family had never defeated Qin, but Qin suppressed the Sima family everywhere. The Sima family had occupied Lintao City for many years. If it were normal operations, it would have been rich and powerful. However, after so many years, the Sima family could only barely survive. Why? Because most of the money and grain were invested in the army? It can be said that the current troops of the Southern Duwei Mansion are the private army of the Sima family. Sima Shang's last words were what really made Sima Lin shaken. That is, if the city was not surrendered, the Sima family would probably be destroyed and their families would be destroyed.

"But will Deng Jun accept us? After all, our Sima family has served Ying Qin for generations, and the Qin people have been branded as a mark on it. Will Deng Jun believe us?" Sima Lin asked.

"I don't know this, but no matter what, it's a glimmer of hope. It's better than staying in Lintao City and waiting to die." Sima Shang shook his head and said.

"Okay, you are the Southern Commander. No matter what decision you make, I will support it. But now there is a problem, that is, Ma Zhi's eldest son Ma Zun is taking Qiang races to Lintao City. How should this be dealt with?" Sima Lin said, and at the same time asked Sima Shang how to deal with Qiang races on the road.

"This is simple. I was worried that relying on Lintao City and only 10,000 soldiers alone would not be enough to make our Sima family gain a foothold in Deng State. Now it will be different. If a team of Qiang clan roars and Ma Zhi's eldest son would be different." Sima Shang smiled and said.

"Guardian, what are you going to do?" Sima Lin asked.

"Uncle San, please stabilize the situation in the city. Tonight, I will leave the city and meet the chief general of Deng's army!" Sima Shang said.

"What kind of lieutenant? Do you want to meet the chief general of Deng's army in person? This is not possible. You are the commander of Lintao City. You must not act lightly. You just need to send someone to deliver a letter." Seeing that Sima Shang was planning to meet the chief general of Deng's army in person, Sima Lin hurriedly dissuaded.

But Sima Shang obviously made up his mind and said, "Uncle San, don't persuade me anymore. My idea has been decided. Besides, you said just now that our Sima family has been Qin generals for generations and sent someone to him. Deng Jun would not believe it. This time it is a major event that determines the life and death of our Sima family. I must go, and only if I go in person will Deng Jun believe us."
Chapter completed!