Chapter Ninety-Nine: A More Distant Place

Yan Zhong walked to Chen Cheng's side and said in a low voice: "Junhou, I see that Ma Teng has a murderous intent just now, and it is not appropriate to stay here for a long time." ”

Chen Cheng smiled bitterly and said, "Where else can we go now?" ”

"I saw someone just now, who was sent by Yang Qiu from the Northland." Yan Zhong said: "He invited the prince and the princess of Wannian to come to the north, saying that he was willing to let Lingzhou out for the prince to live temporarily." ”

Chen Cheng let out a "huh", turned his head, and looked at Yan Zhong in surprise, is there really such a thing as pie in the sky in this world? Yan Zhong looked calm and said: "I heard that the Huns are approaching the north and have surrounded Lian County, and Lingzhou is less than a hundred miles away from Lian County. ”

Chen Cheng realized this, and he said slowly: "I see, Bo Dao thinks we should go or not?" ”

Yan Zhong chuckled and said, "Since others are kind enough to invite us over, why are they embarrassed not to go?" ”

Chen Cheng then made up his mind, made a decision on the spot, and said, "Then we will go to the Northland!" ”

Yuzhong was captured from the Xiongnu when the first emperor Yingzheng ordered Meng Tian to go on a northern expedition, and Meng Tian "expelled the Xiongnu in the northwest, and from Yuzhong to the east of the river, it belonged to the Yin Mountain, thinking that there were thirty-four counties (one is forty-four counties), and the city and river were plugged." Later, during the Qin and Han dynasties, China was in turmoil and was occupied by the Huns.

It was not until the time of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty that Yuzhong was returned to China, and at first it was subordinate to Longxi County, and later it was assigned to Tianshui County (Tianshui County was later Hanyang County) together with the warrior county next door. Later, as the Han Dynasty's dominance in the west was further strengthened, Emperor Zhao of the Han Dynasty turned Yuzhong County into the newly established Jincheng County.

Yuzhong County is located on the border of Hanyang County and Jincheng County, in order to deal with Han Sui's troops, more than 6,000 elite soldiers and horses are stationed all year round, and there is Jincheng behind them, and tens of thousands of reinforcements can be sent at any time, who knew that it would be captured by Han Sui so quickly.

Hearing that Han Sui didn't know how to seize Yuzhong, Ma Teng immediately knew that he couldn't wait any longer. Unless he wanted to bow down at Han Sui's feet, and then pray that Han Sui would spare his life. However, is Han Sui the kind of person with a big heart?

Ma Teng is not optimistic about this at all. Others may be able to change the court and live under Han Sui, but he Ma Teng is an independent prince second only to Han Sui, can Han Sui let him go? Beigong Boyu, Li Wenhou, Bian Zhang, and Wang Guo were all killed.

Thinking of this, Ma Teng immediately led people back to Pengyang City, and then summoned his civil and military generals to discuss it.

The result of the discussion was not unexpected, it only took a short time, and everyone agreed to immediately send troops to attack Hanyang, and when Han Sui's army was trapped in Jincheng, gather the princes of Liangzhou and pounce together. Even Ma Chao, who had just been almost killed by Yan Xing, restrained the anger in his chest and said loudly: "I should be the vanguard and fight to the death with Han Sui!" ”

The plan was decided, and Ma Teng immediately sent someone to the county government to find Chen Cheng. After a while, the soldier came back and said, "The county office is empty. ”

Ma Teng patted his head and said, "But I'm confused, Juluhou is still outside the city, go and invite him over." ”

The advisor persuaded him: "Why doesn't the lord personally go out of the city to invite him to show his sincerity?" ”

Ma Teng hesitated, shook his head, and said, "The more this time, the more anxious you are. ”

He looked at the bruise on Ma Chao's neck, and his tone became more firm, "Because of Yan Xing under him, my son almost died, and if I don't kill him, I am already generous, where can I go out to greet him in person?" ”

Ma Chao touched the pain on his neck, and his face became very unnatural. He has always been self-defeating and brave, but today he almost died at the hands of others, which is undoubtedly a huge blow to his confidence.

The civil and military generals waited in the lobby for a while, Yan Zhong followed the soldiers in, and after going up to the lobby, he smiled and said, "General Ma!" ”

Ma Teng looked to the side and asked, "Where is the Giant Deer Marquis?" ”

Yan Zhong stroked his beard and said with a smile: "So that General Ma will know that Juluhou has led his troops north." ”

"Led the troops north?" Ma Teng said in astonishment: "What is he doing in the north?" Where is the princess? ”

"The princess naturally went with Juluhou."

Ma Teng's expression on his face kept changing, he held back the irritability in his heart, and asked, "I agreed before, and I will give Juluhou an answer tonight, why don't you say goodbye suddenly?" Could it be that he was afraid because he heard the news that Han Sui had seized Yuzhong, so he left? ”

Yan Zhong didn't smile anymore, and said, "How could Master Hou be afraid of Han Sui?" It was General Yang Qiu who sent someone to implore the princess and the Julu Marquis to go to Lingzhou to rest. ”

Ma Teng said in astonishment: "Yang Qiu actually agreed to let Lingzhou out? How is this possible? ”

Yan Zhong said: "It may have something to do with the Huns." ”

He looked at the surprised and shocked expressions of everyone in the hall, held back the happiness in his heart, and said: "It is said that the Xiongnu's Xubu Guhou Shan swore an oath in Linrong ten days ago, and then led his troops south along the Yellow River, and has arrived at the foot of Helan Mountain. General Yang Qiu led his troops to engage in a battle with him, and was defeated and returned, probably because of this reason, so he hurriedly sent people to invite the princess and the Julu Marquis to Lingzhou. ”

Ma Teng couldn't believe it and asked: "The Huns have always sent troops when the horses are fat in autumn, but now it's not yet July, how could the Huns come over?" ”

"I don't know about this, maybe something happened to the Huns, or I heard that Liangzhou was in turmoil and wanted to come over to pick up the bargain." Yan Zhong said with a smile: "Julu Hou once defeated the Wuhuan people in Liaoxi, maybe General Yang Qiu thought that Hou Ye was good at dealing with the Hu people, so he sent someone to greet him." ”

He looked at Ma Chao, and then said: "Before, the nephew Yan Xing had no case and offended the young general, and Juluhou said that it was all the result of his lax discipline, and he had no shame to face General Ma, so he specially ordered me to make amends to the young general." ”

Yan Zhong said and said to the hall: "Take it!" ”

The entourage stepped forward with the box, Yan Zhong took it, opened the box, and the yellow gold nugget appeared in front of everyone. Ma Chao's face was shy and irritable, and he wanted to be angry, but he forced himself to endure it, and just "hummed" in his nostrils.

Yan Zhong smiled, bent over to Ma Teng, then straightened up, and said, "I'm going to chase Juluhou, so I'm leaving." ”

With that, he went down to the hall and put on his shoes, and then led the people away. After a while, the sound of horses' hooves sounded outside the gate not far away. Ma Teng looked at the hall with an ugly face and asked, "The Huns are used to taking advantage of the fire to rob, so ...... send troops at this time."

He asked the strategists on the side, "Do we continue to send troops to attack Han Sui, or do we send troops to the north to help Yang Qiu defend against the Huns?" ”

The strategist said: "Although Yang Qiu has few soldiers, the Huns have always been not good at attacking cities, and they may not be able to ...... if they defend the city."

Ma Chao suddenly stood up and said in a loud voice: "I'll lead the troops to chase them back!" ”

Ma Teng asked, "Who are you chasing?" ”

"Of course, it's the giant deer marquis and the princess!"

"What if they won't come back?"

The muscles on Ma Chao's face jumped, and he gritted his teeth and said, "Then I'll invite them back!" ”

"Hmph," Ma Teng said, "It's better to save some effort to deal with Han Sui!" ”

He looked left and right and made up his mind. "Tomorrow we will send troops to recruit Han Sui!"

The advisor asked, "How many troops?" Which generals are in charge? Is it to rescue Jinseong, or to attack Hanyang County directly? ”

Ma Teng: "..........."

Yan Zhong led people out of Pengyang, galloped on the road, and spent most of the hour catching up with the brigade led by Chen Cheng.

Chen Cheng reined in the horses and asked, "What did Ma Teng say?" ”

Yan Zhong's inner thigh began to hurt again, and he clamped the horse's belly hard to keep himself from falling, "What else can I say?" Yes, of course...... Nothing was said! ”

Chen Cheng laughed for a while, and then asked: "Originally, I wanted to invite everyone, but now I haven't done it, will it make the local heroes in Liangzhou dissatisfied?" ”

Yan Zhong said with a smile: "The Huns are coming, the princes of Liangzhou have the same hatred, compared with this big event, the banquet is just a small matter." ”

He pointed to the Qianghu tribe and the strong team of the Han people who followed behind, and said: "I heard that the prince is going north to resist the Huns, these are all willing to go with him, do you want to meet their leader?" ”

Chen Cheng said: "These are righteous people, of course they have to meet them." ”

He asked Lu Fang to lead his troops to continue to advance, and he took more than a dozen cavalry to meet the leaders of the various departments who followed him on the side of the road. There were about 2,000 soldiers and horses following behind, and the ratio of Hu to Han was almost seven to three. Among the Hu people, they are basically Qiang people. There were seven leaders of these two thousand soldiers and horses, namely Chu Hu from Xiqiang, Jiegang from Yaodangqiang, Shi Guangli from Bailanqiang, Bali Ba Lost from Dang Xiang Qiang, and Han Haoqiang Li Jun, Wang Ling, and Yao Qiong.

Of course, the four Qiang leaders are dressed as Hu people, and the three Han heroes are also wearing strong Hu clothes, and they look very shrewd and capable. The seven men came to Chen Cheng with their horses, dismounted ten steps away, and then took a few steps forward, bowed to the ground together, and said, "Meet the hussar general!" ”

Chen Cheng helped them up one by one and said: "The wind knows the strength of the grass, and the board knows the loyal ministers, when the Huns invade, you can stand up, it can be seen that you are all loyal and righteous people." I don't know where the Qing and the others come from, but I can say them one by one. ”

So they introduced themselves one by one and told them how many soldiers and horses they had. When he heard Dang Xiangqiang's mistakes, Chen Cheng couldn't help but look at the other party a few more times. He knew that in the later Song Dynasty, the Dangxiang people had established a Western Xia kingdom, and it seemed that a monk had been recruited as a horse.

The matter of the monk being a concubine is said in "Tianlong Babu", which is probably nothing. However, the party members did establish the Western Xia State, which once dominated the northwest for hundreds of years, and repeatedly fought with the Song and Liao capitals, the great powers at that time, and won and lost each other, but they could always exist. It was not until the rise of Mongolia that it disappeared into the long river of history.

Chen Cheng said to the seven leaders with a pleasant face: "The Huns are menacing, you command your own soldiers and horses, just follow me." For the sake of communication, let each of you send some men with my troops. ”

As a result, several families sent their own nephews and cronies to mix with Chen Cheng's troops. They sent more than 50 men and more than 10 men. Although the number of people is small, they are all elite, and their weapons and equipment and horses are better than those of ordinary people.

Only Yao Qiong, a native of Hanyang, said: "I have fewer people with me, and I am willing to return to the general's command together." ”

Yao Qiong said that there were fewer people brought, but there were more than 200 people. Chen Cheng looked at Yan Zhong on the side, Yan Zhong smiled and said to Yao Qiong: "The Yao family is a prominent family in Hanyang, and if you can get help, great things can be done!" ”

They are all from Hanyang, and Yao Qiong brought people to vote because of Yan Zhong. Just like Cao Cao, after receiving the assistance of Xun Yu and Xun You's uncle and nephew, talents from Yingchuan and even the entire Yanzhou and Yuzhou came to vote. In this era, people regard the county as their country, and naturally believe more in the local township party.

After Chen Cheng came out of Luoyang, he decided to go to Xiliang to avoid trouble, part of the reason is that Yan Zhong is a famous man in Liangzhou, and with Yan Zhong coming forward, he can get the recognition of many Liangzhou heroes.

He said to Yao Qiong: "Since this is the case, then please take the position of Qu Junhou for the time being, how about it?" ”

Yao Qiong bowed to the ground and said, "The last general will see the lord." ”

After Chen Cheng helped him up, Yao Qiong saw Wang Ling and Li Jun's surprised eyes, and said in her heart: Since you have decided to take refuge, it is better to take refuge sooner rather than later!

Chen Cheng looked at the sky, and then said: "It's a long way to go to the north, I'll lead the troops to set off first, and you will catch up later." ”

He turned around again and said, "Zilong, I will hand over the princess to you, you can protect the princess and come slowly with the others." ”

Seeing that Zhao Yun wanted to say something, Chen Cheng patted him on the shoulder and said, "I am you, you are me." The princess went to Xiliang with me, and I was supposed to keep her by my side all the time, but now that the military situation is urgent, please be sure to take care of her for me. ”

Zhao Yun nodded heavily and said, "But teach me that Zhao Yun still has a breath, and he will definitely protect the princess." ”

Chen Cheng looked at Liu Qian in the carriage, sighed, and said, "Although the Ma family hasn't embarrassed us yet, we have to go to a more distant place. ”

Liu Qian said crisply: "It doesn't matter, when the master defeats the Huns, teach me archery." ”

"Master?" Chen Cheng raised his eyebrows and said, "Okay, when the Huns are defeated, I will teach you to ride a horse and shoot arrows." ”