Before Sun Jian died in Jingzhou in battle, Sun Ce lived in Shu County, Lujiang, and was accompanied by his good friend Zhou Yu. He was famous for his heroic heroism and beauty.

In addition, Sun Jian was represented as the governor of Yuzhou, and many rangers came to surrender to Sun Ce. Sun Ce was surrounded by others when he went on a trip, and he was considered a big and small figure.

As a result, the changes in the world are always too fast. Sun Jian said it would be gone. Sun Ce's cousin Sun Ben temporarily led the Sun clan.

Sun Ce was mourning for his father in his hometown. After three years of mourning, Sun Ce came to Shouchun to pay homage to Yuan Shu, hoping to get Sun Jian’s old subordinates back from Yuan Shu, and then took his old subordinates to revenge Liu Biao.

Yuan Shu observed Sun Ce's words and deeds, and saw the shadow of Sun Jian. He felt that this son was unusual and could not easily hand over Sun Jian's old subordinate to Sun Ce.

So he told him that he would go to Danyang County where his uncle Wu Jing and cousin Sun Ben were located to recruit soldiers, and he would provide appropriate support.

Sun Ce had no choice but to go to Danyang County to recruit soldiers. Danyang County has produced elite troops since ancient times. Sun Ce recruited hundreds of people and won the battle against the bandit Zulang. He won the first battle, so he gained a high prestige.

After Yuan Shu learned about it, he was quite surprised. Because Sun Ce's age was similar to that of his children, he vaguely felt appreciative. So he slapped his head and returned Sun Jian's old subordinate to Sun Ce and asked him to command his father's old subordinate.

More than a thousand old subordinates such as Cheng Pu, Han Dang, Huang Gai were able to return to the Sun family.

That night, Sun Ce was drunk with these father's old subordinates and got their help. He initially established his own hill in Yuan Shu's army and made a lot of contributions to Yuan Shu's battles in the south and north.

Yuan Shu once promised to appoint him as the prefect of Jiujiang, but he broke his promise and appointed his confidant as the prefect, because Sun Ce was too young and lacked qualifications.

Sun Ce had nothing to say, so he had to continue to be the Huaiyi Captain under Yuan Shu's command and lead troops to fight against bandits from all directions.

Then he helped Yuan Shu attack the disobedient powerful people, destroy their manors and forts, seize their property and food, so as to enjoy and squander Yuan Shu.

This experience also strengthened Sun Ce's ability to command troops. Han Dangcheng Pu and Huang Gai and other old subordinates continued to teach Sun Ce's experience in commanding troops to fight, which benefited Sun Ce a lot.

However, this still cannot make Sun Ce happy.

The third year of Chuping was soon spent. At the beginning of Chuping, Yuan Shu received the imperial title from the Chang'an court. Although he did not receive the official position of General Cavalry, he received the official position of General Wei.

It seems that the Chang'an court's political offensive against the Yuan Shu faction did not have the expected effect. In order not to arouse Yuan Shu's greater indignation, the Yuan Shu faction collectively hated the Chang'an court and could only be forced to compromise.

But even so, General Cavalry could not give it to him casually. Li Jue had already served as General Cheqi and Cavalry himself, so he gave General Guard to Yuan Shu, and still did not give him new local positions in the area of ​​Yuzhou, Yangzhou, and even began to select suitable candidates for Yangzhou governors in the court.

Yuan Shu can't be so arrogant.

Yuan Shu was not very satisfied, but he was better than nothing, so he began a large-scale military operation to expand his strength and began to march into areas that he could not control in Yangzhou and Yuzhou, trying to further expand his sphere of influence and strengthen his strength.

Work hard for the dream in his heart.

In order to achieve the goal, a large amount of food and grass and a large number of soldiers are needed. It is easy to deal with the soldiers. Just catch the strong men. It is very simple.

But food and grass are not simple.

During the chaotic war, the most scarce thing for warlords was food and grass, and there was no shortage of other things.

If food and grass are used as wealth, most warlords can be described in one word, that is poverty.

Very poor.

Important means of production such as land, population, plowing oxen, etc. were all in the hands of the gentry and powerful people. They could not rob and garrison the land, so they had to adopt the grain collection system of prefectures and counties.

When food and grass were needed, an indicator was given, and the prefecture and county officials ordered the collection of food and grass for the army to use.

Generally speaking, local governments will try their best to cooperate and will not oppose warlords. If they do the right thing, warlords will coerce with force, and the consequences of prefecture and county officials will be very ugly.

However, the food and grass obtained in this way are very unstable and rely heavily on this way, the food and grass of the army cannot be supplied stably. They can eat a little more when they are not fighting, and hunger is something that often happens.

Fortunately, Yuan Shu's army was garrisoned in a place with dense water nets. He could rely on fishing to fill his stomach, go up the mountain to pick berries, and hunt in groups, making it like primitive people who don't know how to farm.

Yuan Shu did fight against the local tyrants and rob the powerful, but that was enjoyed by himself and enjoyed by high-ranking officials, and it had nothing to do with grassroots soldiers, just as a boss’s wealth does not mean that the employees have money.

It is not that easy for soldiers at the bottom to go hungry.

Even during the war, if you encounter uncooperative counties or counties that really have no food, you will not be able to get enough food.

Yuan Shu encountered this situation.

Some counties directly under him have basically been squeezed out, and if they continue to deal with it, they will not be able to survive. Yuan Shu had no choice but to collect food and grass from other counties.

He solicited food and grass from all counties in the name of his own proclaimed Yangzhou governor and General Wei of the Chang'an court.

When collecting Lujiang County, the standard given was 30,000 hu, which was not too much, but Lu Kang, the prefect of Lujiang, was a tough guy and difficult to chew.

At that time, news that Yuan Shu imprisoned the imperial envoy Ma Riyi to cause his death spread, and Lu Kang was very annoyed.

Because Yuan Shu plundered the powerful people everywhere, attacked manors and forts, threatening the interests of the local powerful gentry, he regarded Yuan Shu as his enemy and rejected Yuan Shu's request.

Not only that, he also wrote a letter, mocking Yuan Shu's self-proclaimed governor of Yangzhou with the identity of the prefect of Lujiang who was appointed by Emperor Ling of Han, and calling him unjust, unjust, and extremely shameless.

Yuan Shu was originally very difficult to collect grain, but now someone insulted him and exploded in an instant.

"I don't know the ruthlessness! This is I don't know the ruthlessness! Old Mr. Lu Kang bullies me too much! Send troops! Send troops! I want to send troops to deal with him!"

Yuan Shu was furious in his mansion, smashing the table and bench, as if he wanted to fight Lu Kang to the death.

Yan Xiang advised Yuan Shu not to do this.

"Lu Kang was the prefect of Lujiang appointed by the court. He was justified and wanted to attack him. Unless he committed the crime of treason, the general should not send troops."

"He is the prefect, I am the general of the guard, and I am above the nine ministers! He is just a prefect of two thousand stones. Disobeying my military orders is to rebel!"

"But if the general wants to send troops to attack, he should also be in the name of Zhendong or General Andong. The general is the general of the guard and has no authority to attack the local area."

Having said that, Yuan Shu ignored Yan Xiang's dissuasion and immediately ordered to conquer Lujiang County, and said that he would be appointed as the prefect of Lujiang County by capturing Lujiang County.

At that time, the main generals were all outside. Yuan Shu looked around and couldn't find a suitable candidate. As a result, Sun Ce, who was nineteen years old, recommended himself.

Sun Ce didn't know the news at first, but Cheng Pu told Sun Ce.

"What? Can you be named the prefect of Lujiang by capturing Lujiang County?"

Sun Ce was a little surprised.

"Yes, Bo Fu, do you want to try this opportunity? It's always difficult to destroy bandits and the like. However, if you can conquer a county, you can fully prove your ability, and General Yuan will continue to reuse you."

After Cheng Pu said this, Sun Ce was immediately moved.

"Uncle Demou is right. I want to fight for this opportunity. And if I can win the position of Lujiang Prefect, it will be more convenient to avenge my father!"

Sun Ce narrowed his eyes and thought that Jiangxia County, which was guarded by Huang Zu, the enemy who killed his father, was next door to Lujiang County. He was immediately full of fighting spirit.
Chapter completed!