Chapter 159: Marriage

Facing Chen Cheng's question, Yan Zhong shook his head and said, "The situation in Bingzhou and Liangzhou is completely different, and learning from Dong Zhuo is a toddler in Handan." Although there are many powerful and powerful states, how can they compare with the princes of Shangliang Prefecture who have strong troops? ”

Chen Cheng thought for a while and said, "That Bodao came here today just to tell me about Han Sui's defeat of Shangqi and Dong Zhuo's slaughter of the state?" Although Han Sui was defeated, Ding Yuan and Huangfu Song did not take too much advantage. As for Dong Zhuo, he may send troops from Xihe County or Dingxiang County to Wuyuan. Well, Xu Rong only has 6,000 cavalry in Manbo, and it is estimated that it will be difficult to resist the full force of the state and county to attack, but I have already explained to him that if the imperial court soldiers and horses come to attack in a big way, he will hold the city, and I will lead the army to the rescue. ”

Yan Zhong stroked his beard and said with a smile: "The prince and the marquis use soldiers, unpredictable, I am not worried." ”

Chen Chengxin said: You are not worried, but I am very worried.

He has a clear understanding of his own ability, and in terms of real military ability, it is probably the second-rate level of the upper middle level. But after he succeeded in his surprise attack on Linrong and beheaded the Huns' Xubu Gudu Hou Danyu, everyone thought that he was a master of soldiers and a famous general.

Yan Zhong said: "I came here today, not because of the war, but because Ma Teng from Anding County sent someone over, saying that he wanted to marry the prince. ”

"Huh?" Chen Cheng pondered for a while and asked, "Before, near Jincheng, did Ma Tengjun's losses be great?" ”

"I heard that thousands of soldiers and horses were lost, but the main force withdrew to settle down. This time the officers and soldiers attacked Hanyang, Huangfu Song led the partial division to the city of Longxian, and Ma Teng also led the troops to the rescue. ”

"I don't understand this, since the main force of Ma Teng's army is still there, why rush to marry me?"

Yan Zhong said: "I probably want to bet in advance." ”

He explained to Chen Cheng: "Although Ma Teng has stability, but there are only 30,000 soldiers and horses, and the land is close to Sanfu, if Ding Yuan did not attack Hanyang, but used troops with Huangfu Song to settle down, I am afraid that Pengyang has been captured by now." ”

Chen Cheng smiled dumbly and said, "If you don't fight Hanyang, where the terrain is flat, you have to climb the mountains and jungles to get stability?" If Han Sui led troops to cut off the grain route, the soldiers and horses that went deep into the stability would die and have no place to be buried. ”

Yan Zhong laughed and said, "Ding Yuan and Huangfu Song may have such worries, but Ma Teng can't help but guard against Han Sui's immobility. Han Wenyue is thoughtful, has always acted secretively, unpredictable, and it is not strange to do anything. ”

Chen Cheng said: "That makes sense, Ma Teng is trying to find a way back." ”

He asked Yan Zhong: "Who does Ma Teng want to marry?" ”

"The prince has seen it in Pengyang," Yan Zhong squeezed his eyes and said with a smile: "That Ma Yunlu girl is very delicate, she is a beautiful embryo, and the prince is going to be blessed." ”

Chen Cheng was taken aback and said, "Isn't Ma Yunlu only eleven or twelve years old?" It doesn't seem to have grown yet, has it? Can you get married at such a young age? ”

Yan Zhong stroked his beard and said, "It's only a year or two away, just raise it first." ”

Chen Cheng shook his head and said, "What is this?" Did Ma Teng think that sending a daughter over would improve his relationship with us? ”

"Can't you?" Yan Zhong said: "Marriage is the most effective guarantee, and in addition, the only way to do this is to send hostages." Do you want to reply to Ma Teng and ask him to send his eldest son Ma Chao to Lian County? ”

In this era, blood ties are still the most stable and strong bond. If Ma Tengken sent his eldest son Ma Chao over, it would be a sign of complete surrender. But Chen Cheng thought about it and felt that it was better not to go too far. If it wasn't a last resort, how could Ma Teng hand over his eldest son as a hostage? Unless Ding Yuan's soldiers come to Pengyang City, it's almost the same.

He remembered that when Cao Cao was at his most critical in history, Yuan Shao sent someone to ask him to send his family to Yecheng, but Cao Mengde refused. Ma Teng is also a prince, and his willingness to send his daughter over is already low. If he asks him to send his son over again, maybe it will tear both sides apart.

Chen Cheng shook his head and said, "Forget it, let that Ma Yunlu girl come to Lian County." ”

He thought for a moment, and then said, "Well, let's just say that I asked her to come here to study." ”

"Did the prince mean to study with the princess?"

"Yes, let her eat and live with the princess, so that they can also have a playmate." Chen Cheng said: "I'll talk about it later, it's good to let her learn something." ”

Yan Zhong said with a smile: "It's good to let Ma Teng send Ma Yunlu over in the name of sending his daughter to study, so that his face will look better." Moreover, in another year or two, the status of the prince will be very different, and when the time comes, the daughter of the princess's family will be worthy of the identity of the prince. ”

Chen Cheng smiled, didn't want to talk about this topic, and said: "Xiaoxue is the beginning of the sun, there is nothing to be busy with recently, Bodao is rare to visit, why don't you have a few drinks with me?" ”

Yan Zhong stroked his palms and smiled, and said, "I am stubborn, I dare not ask for ears!" ”

So Chen Cheng summoned the tooth soldiers, took them to set up a copper stove, a table and a futon in the room near the courtyard, and lit a brazier on the side to raise the temperature in the room. Although the outside is covered in snow, the inside of the room is as warm as spring.

Although Chen Chengping has a lot of food, the food is very simple, and now if he wants to invite Yan Zhong to drink, he naturally can't be as casual as usual. He cut a few large plates of beef and mutton, and personally sliced the frozen fish that was only delivered to the house yesterday, and scalded a pot of rice wine. In addition to that, I also boiled some potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn on the cob, and pickled cabbage and radishes.

When Chen Cheng was busy, Yan Zhong stood by and watched, he was a gentleman, holding the concept of "a gentleman is far away from cooking". Well, actually, he doesn't know any of that at all. However, he still made a suggestion, "Since there has been nothing to do recently, why don't you invite Zhao Yun, the commander of the middle order, Xu Chao, the secretary of the household department, Yang Qiu, the secretary of the military department, and Lu Fang, the commander of the northern land, to come over?" ”

One is also please, and five are also put, Chen Cheng naturally has no opinions. It just so happened that things in Yacheng came to an end, and Zhao Yun was also in the city during this time. In less than half an hour, Zhao Yun, Yang Qiu, Xu Chao, and Lu Fang all rode over.

Yang Qiu was recently involved in the assassination case, suffered a big loss, and his face looked a little bad. The people also stopped, and they no longer chased Xu Chao for more military spending. For the most part, he spent his time in the courtyard where the staff headquarters was located, playing war games with the officers who were addicted to the game. Although the board game was full of holes, it still made them enjoy playing.

However, it is also possible that I have played too many games with the concubine at home recently, so I have a feeling of lack of energy. He untied the short knife from his waist, put it on the side of the desk, then sat down and said to Chen Cheng: "Has the lord received the news?" Han Sui sent troops to Shangqi again, losing a lot of people, and his own horses were all shot to death! ”

Chen Cheng beckoned, asked the tooth soldiers on the side to come forward, took out the hot rice wine in the copper furnace, and filled the wine glasses of everyone in the seats. He smiled and said, "Bodao has already told me just now. Everyone has been busy for a long time, so let's not talk about those mundane things today, come, I will give you a glass first. ”

The people raised their glasses and drank their contents. Lu Fang swallowed the wine, the sweet wine syrup entered his throat, and he only felt a little bitter when he went. He was originally Chen Cheng's deputy general, and he made a lot of military achievements, although there were a lot more soldiers and horses under his command, and the place under his jurisdiction was much larger, but from the official rank of general, he was now under Zhao Yun.

This can't help but fill his heart with resentment, but if he is asked to give up his position as the governor of the North and go to serve in Menxia Province, he will feel a little unwilling and will think that it is overkill. Lu Fang also knew that Zhao Yun had much fewer soldiers and horses in his hands, but every time he saw Zhao Yun, he couldn't help but feel sour water in his stomach.

Zhao Yun sensed Lu Fang's faint hostility and could guess why, but he was not affected in the slightest, and his bearing was still calm. In addition, his martial arts have recently made great progress, and his body has grown thicker, and when he sits there, he has a feeling of being in the middle of the world. When Lu Fang saw it, he only felt that the wine in his mouth was even more bitter.

After having a drink together, Chen Cheng toasted one by one, from Yan Zhong to Lu Fang, none of them were left behind. He first counted their exploits, and then personally poured them full wine glasses, this kind of behavior Chen Cheng had already done very naturally, and there was no pretentiousness at all. If it is put in the future generations, it will probably be able to mix up as an actor.

Chen Cheng was in full swing with everyone to connect with feelings, and at the same time searched for jokes about the actor in the corner of memory. It's not a joke either, but it's a joke and black humor. The gist is like this: when everyone scolded the actor, someone made a prophecy, saying "You will miss him in the future".

Well, those little fresh meat or something, the acting skills really can't be compared with the old drama bones. Chen Cheng was in awe of the acting school and some other things, and let himself think: You can't be complacent, where is this? Knowing that I sin against me, it is only spring and autumn!

The wine has passed three rounds, and the dishes have passed five flavors. Liangzhou is located on the border, and the food is not as exquisite as Luoyang, but the victory is large, and several people eat very happily, and Yan Zhong also loosened his trouser belt several times in a row.

When Chen Cheng was eating and drinking with Yan Zhong, he didn't forget to let the tooth soldiers cook a large pot of beef and mutton, and then distributed it to everyone in the mansion. After Liu Qian finished washing, she pulled the timid Zi Jia'er to join the banquet, the two of them were still young and their bodies were very petite, so they shared a desk, right next to Chen Cheng.

Everyone present is very familiar with the princess Liu Qian, but Zi Jia'er is the first time she has seen it. Seeing her lilac eyes, both Yan Zhong and Lu Fang showed a look of surprise. Only Zhao Yun had known for a long time, so his face had remained calm, and this naturally caused Lu Fang to slander for a while.

The two children naturally can't drink, Chen Cheng took out the small inventory, poured the juice into the copper kettle, and after it was hot, poured a cup for each of them, and then cut some beef and mutton and potatoes and sweet potatoes for them and other dishes that I don't know if they are vegetables, and sandwiched some pickled cabbage and pickled radish, and then sat back.

Yan Zhong drank a lot of wine, ate a lot of meat and vegetables, loosened his trouser belt again, and said with a smile while the wine was happy: "Thanks to the hospitality of the prince today, it can be said that he is full of wine and food, but there is a bad thing!" ”