Guo Huai doesn't understand what it means if there is a demand, there will be a market, but he knows that if there is a benefit, someone will do it.

He visited Longyou this time at the beginning of spring, firstly for spring plowing, and secondly to beat the powerful Longyou family so that they would not be too blatant.

However, the Longyou area is sparsely populated and is a good place for grazing. The aristocratic families are enclosing the land for profit. As long as it does not cause Qiang and Hu rebellions, in Guo Huai's view, it is not a big deal...

Just as he was thinking of this, he suddenly saw smoke and dust billowing up in front of him, and a group of people were galloping towards him.

Upon seeing this, the guards of the Governor's Mansion hurriedly stepped forward with their swords in hand. At the same time, the soldiers nearby rushed up, setting up their bows and drawing crossbows, and surrounded everyone.

The cavalry wandering around not far away gathered together and faced him.

The folk customs in Longyou are fierce. If a small group of ordinary business travelers dare to walk on the open land, bandits will appear from nowhere to rob them.

Although the governor was accompanied by local officials on this trip, it is always right to be careful.

If you meet someone who really has no eyesight, who should you cry to?

The incoming team was intercepted in front. After a while, another rider came over. Before they could reach them, they immediately turned over and dismounted, and even staggered a bit. It was obvious that the rider was in a hurry.

After seeing it clearly, Guo Huai realized that this was the story of his confidants who stayed in Shanggui.

The confidant had a look of worry and anxiety on his face. He breathed a sigh of relief after seeing that Guo Huai was safe, "Your Majesty, it's not good. Zhuge Liang, the fake prime minister of Shu, led an army of 300,000 to invade Guanzhong Longyou."

"Nowadays, many counties and counties in Longxi have responded, and rebellions continue. This place is dangerous and it is not suitable to stay for a long time. Please mount your horse and return to the city as soon as possible!"

When Guo Huai heard this, it was like hearing a thunderbolt from the blue. He was shocked and said, "How could the Shu captives suddenly invade the border?"

Remembering that there are not many troops in Guanzhong, and as the governor of Yongzhou, he is far away from Longyou. If Zhuge Liang leads his army to suddenly enter Guanzhong, Guanzhong will be in danger!

According to the law of the Wei Dynasty, anyone who fails to defend the city will be guilty of a serious crime.

As soon as he thought of this, Guo Huai was confused and asked anxiously, "Where is the traitor Zhuge now?"

"We are attacking Qishan City. It is said that there are 200,000 soldiers and horses, and another 100,000 people are walking down the Xiegu from Hanzhong. Now General Cao has arrived in Guanzhong and is leading his army to Yicheng."

When Guo Huai heard this, he breathed a sigh of relief and said, "With the general here, there will be no worries in the pass. I must guard Longyou."

Zhuge's thieves said there were three hundred thousand, which is definitely false, but there should be nearly one hundred thousand, and the troops are divided into two groups, so one group must be the main army and the other group is the partial division.

I just don’t know which one is true and which one is false?

If I were alone, I might not be able to cope.

Fortunately, the imperial court responded quickly and sent General Cao to guard Guanzhong.

Thinking of this, Guo Huai hurriedly ordered, "Come here, bring my mount over."

Then he turned to Ma Zun and said, "Prefect Ma, the pseudo-Shu Prime Minister Xiangqin and his army are coming with bad intentions. The situation is critical at this time. You should return to the city quickly, prepare your troops and horses, and guard the city to guard against the invasion of Shu captives."

"Shanggui is an important area. You can go down to Chencang along the Wei River. There is also food and grass in the camp. You must not miss anything. I will go and take charge personally."

Ma Zun was about to speak, but Guo Huai didn't want to wait for a moment. After speaking, he got on his horse and galloped away with his men in a hurry.

What the two said had long been heard by the Tianshui officials who were following behind, causing a panic commotion.

Jiang Wei, who joined the army in Tianshui, walked up and whispered, "Ming Mansion, the situation in Tianshui counties is unclear at this time. We should return to Hebei County as soon as possible..."

Ma Zun glanced at Jiang Wei in a panic, and then at the people behind him. Wei Wei nodded, "Okay, let's go back to Ji County."

Guo Huai and his entourage rode away most of the horses. The remaining people were short of horses and could not travel fast, so they stayed that night in a relatively stable small county.

In the middle of the night, someone suddenly knocked quietly on the door of Ma Zun's wing.

The door opened with a creak, the person stepped in, and then the lights lit up in the room.

"how?"

Ma Zun asked anxiously who was coming.

"Reporting to the Ming Dynasty, not only the counties in Tianshui County have rebelled, but Nan'an County has also rebelled. Now Longyou is full of people who support the puppet Shu. Many county magistrates have even been kidnapped and become thieves."

The confidant was walking back and forth, breathing heavily from exhaustion, and said to Ma Zun.

"Kiding to become a thief?"

When Ma Zun heard this, his face turned pale.

Fortunately for the county magistrate, many of them are natives of Longyou, or at most people from other counties in Longyou, but their family members are all considered to be in Longyou.

But I am different, I am from Kanto.

If he is kidnapped and becomes a thief, his wife, children and parents at home may be implicated.

Thinking of this, he quickly asked, "Where's the situation in Ji County? How is the situation?"

"Jixian County is too far away and I don't have time to investigate. However, there are rumors that the city gates in Jixian County have been closed and no one can come in or out. I don't know what the situation is."

"I'm afraid he just wants to be a thief."

Ma Zun murmured.

The more he thought about it, the more likely it became. In recent years, things from the south have become more and more popular in Ji County.

The reason is that several large clans in Tianshui have close ties with the south.

This Ji County is governed by Tianshui County. If all the counties in Tianshui rebel, how can there be any reason for the rebels to let Ji County go?

So, Jiang Wei might not have good intentions in persuading him to return to Ji County?

Thinking of this, Ma Zun trembled and said quickly, "Quickly, get our people up, lead all the horses, and leave immediately, leave immediately, we can't stay here for a moment."

"promise!"

When the army from the south attacked, not only Ma Zun couldn't sleep, but Jiang Wei and others were also worried. How could they have a peaceful sleep? Many people simply didn't take off their clothes, fearing that something might happen.

In the middle of the night, he suddenly heard the noise of people outside and the neighing of horses. Jiang Wei suddenly woke up, got up in a hurry, grabbed the long sword on the bed and rushed out.

But in the courtyard, torches were waving wildly, and Governor Ma was walking hurriedly outside, surrounded by his entourage.

"Where are you going in the middle of the night?"

When Jiang Wei saw this, he suddenly felt something was wrong and shouted quickly.

When Ma Zun saw Jiang Wei approaching with a long sword, he took a few steps back warily and called out, "Here comes someone!"

The entourage hulaed and surrounded him.

Ma Zun was protected by his subordinates and felt a little at ease. Then he plucked up the courage and pointed at Jiang Wei and said, "Don't come over here!"

Jiang Wei had no choice but to stop and ask again, "Where are you planning to go in the middle of the night?"

"All the counties in Tianshui are rebelling. You want me to go to Ji County, but you have other plans?"

Ma Zun's eyes flickered and he looked at Jiang Wei and asked.

Jiang Wei became anxious when he heard this, "Why would the Ming government have such an idea? I asked the Ming government to return to Ji County as soon as possible just to make preparations in case the Shu captives attack. What are your intentions?"

Ma Zun didn't believe it at all. He sneered, "I can't believe you! If others don't know, do I still know the situation in Ji County?"

"There are four surnames, Jiang, Ren, Yan, Zhao, and Tianshui, and your Jiang family is one of them. In the past few years, which of the big families in Hebei County has not privately traded with the southern part of the country? That woolen cloth alone is a huge profit."

As he spoke, he lit the fire and saw many people coming out of each room one after another. They were Tianshui Gong Cao Liangxu, Chief Bookkeeper Yin Shang, Chief Bookkeeper Liang Qian and others. They were all members of the Tianshui wealthy family, and he felt even more determined at that moment.

own thoughts.

"In order to get woolen cloth from the south, you did not hesitate to exchange grain for it. Do you really think I don't know about such things to support the enemy? I'm afraid you are waiting for the arrival of the Jihan army every night? Otherwise, why is Longyou now?

Are all the counties rebelling?"

He knows so clearly because he has received a lot of benefits from these companies in the past two years.

But now he feels extremely regretful. If he had known that these wealthy families had the intention to rebel, how could he have dared to get involved in such a thing?

When Jiang Wei heard this, his heart became even more anxious. He immediately wanted to step forward and explain, "The Ming government has done something wrong! Is Wei such a disloyal person?"

"Stop!" Ma Zun made a clang, pulled out the long sword from his waist on the spot, pointed at Jiang Wei and shouted sternly, "Jiang Boyue, you and I have just met each other, do you really want to fight with me?"

See you?"

Jiang Wei had no choice but to stop again and sighed, "If the Ming Dynasty doesn't return to Jicheng, where else can it go?"

"Where I go has nothing to do with you and others. If you are really innocent, take people back to Ji County, guard the city, and wait for the Shu captives to retreat. It will prove that you are innocent, and I will plead guilty to you personally.

"

"But now, I don't believe you! Let's just say goodbye!"

After Ma Zun finished speaking, he was about to take another step and prepare to leave.

Jiang Wei persisted in admonishing, "The Ming Mansion is the governor of Tianshui County. If he abandons the county and governs Hebei County, if the court investigates him in the future, he will be guilty of losing the city. Will the Ming Mansion be severely punished?"

Ma Zun wanted to follow Guo Huai, but how could he listen?

Then he sneered, "The city has been lost a long time ago. It's not my fault, it's all your fault!"

After saying that, he took his followers with him, walked out of the yard, got on his horse, and galloped away in the direction of Shanggui overnight.

The prefect left with his cronies, and even the county magistrate who arranged for them to stay disappeared at some point.

Everyone in the guesthouse was at a loss, not knowing what to do, let alone how much of what the prefect said was true or false.

"Bojo, what should we do?"

Liang Xu came over and asked in a low voice.
To be continued...