"Why are there so many Qiang people in Northland County?"

Outside Fuping City, the Northern Land Governance Office, in the account of the Yanguo Army, Xiang Ao looked around at the people under his command with some warmth and anger, and asked in a low voice. Li Jin, who was the assassin of the state, traveled with the army this time and was ashamed to be questioned by Xiang Ao.

"My lord, although there are Ma Teng and Han Sui in Xiliang, only the five counties of Weiwu, Jincheng, Hanyang, Xilong and Wudu are actually under the rule of the Han people (from Wuwei in the middle of Gansu Province in the north to Longnan City in Gansu Province in the north). Even Wuwei County is only south of the Great Wall and is under the control of Ma Teng and others. As for the three counties and one country in the west, after being divided by the sixteen countries of the Western Regions, they had long been out of the control of the Han Dynasty. ”

Li Jin was a little apprehensive, he had followed Xiang Ao for many years, and Li Jin naturally understood why Xiang Ao was asking. At the time of the decisive battle with Yuan Shao, Li Jin, who led the Western Army to garrison Bingzhou, did not do anything about the Qiang people who were ravaging Xiliang, and after this battle, I am afraid that Li Jin's life was not easy.

Before the fall of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Xiliang did not belong to Xiang Ao's rule; After the fall of the Eastern Han Dynasty, most of the soldiers and horses of the Yan State were on the battlefield in Jizhou, so that the Yan State had no time to take care of anything else, and Xiliang was ravaged by the Qiang people and had to be put on hold. Xiang Ao also knew the truth, and snorted coldly in displeasure and didn't say more. The Qiang people, like the Xianbei and Xiongnu, were not good at defending the city. After Xiang Ao's 100,000 troops entered the Northland, he easily recovered the Northland County and drove the Qiang people into Wuwei County.

The original Anding County between Wuwei County, Hanyang County and Beidi County was the main battlefield of the battle between Ma Teng and the Qiang people, and after the recovery of Beidi, the situation in Anding County became more and more chaotic.

"Lord, the situation in Xiliang has always been like this, no wonder General Li Jin." Jia Xu, who was accompanying him, stepped forward and said with a chuckle: "Now that Xiliang is in turmoil and the people are displaced, the lord has managed to recover Xiliang and return the people to Antai." ”

When Xiang Ao heard this, he borrowed the slope to get off the donkey, straightened his face and said: "What the sacrificial wine said is reasonable, but this king is a little anxious." ”

"What is the situation in Anding County?"

"Your Lord!" Li Jin's heart was relieved, and he hurriedly stepped forward and replied: "Although there are mountains and mountains in the south of Xiliang to block the Qiang people, when the Eastern Han Dynasty was in turmoil, the Qiang people colluded with the sixteen countries of the Western Regions to carve up the three counties of Dunhuang, Jiuquan and Zhangye. At this time, the two counties of Dunhuang and Jiuquan had been occupied by the sixteen countries of the Western Regions, and Zhangye County was in the hands of the Qiang people. ”

"The Qiang people took advantage of Zhangye, crossed the Great Wall, crossed Wuwei, and entered the two counties of Anding and Beidi. The Qiang people who colluded with Dong Zhuo in the past came from this. After the lord recovered the northern land, the Qiang people who invaded the land of Sanfu were also rapidly retracting, and it seemed that they planned to return to defense and stability. ”

"Back defense? How many Qiang people are there in the land of Sanfu? Xiang Ao frowned, he didn't expect the Qiang people to be so bold and dare to enter the hinterland of the Central Plains.

"In the past, there were two people in the land of Sanfu, Li Dao and Guo Yan, but now most of them are under Lu Bu, and there are not too many Qiang people who have invaded the land of Jingzhao. At that time, Lu Bu and Ma Teng were afraid of each other, and they did not raise troops to fight against the Qiang people, so that the Qiang people took advantage of the loophole. ”

"How is Ma Teng stabilizing the forces?"

"Everyone in the world knows that it is Ma Teng who seizes Xiliang, but in Xiliang, the person in charge is actually Han Sui." After that, Li Jin took a step forward, and before coming to Yutu, he hugged his fist at Xiang Ao and said respectfully: "My lord, please take a look." Ma Teng garrisoned in Longxi and Wudu counties, guarding against Lu Bu and Liu Zhang in Yizhou, while Han Sui led tens of thousands of troops to be stationed in Hanyang County and the chaotic Anding County. ”

Half a year ago, the minister began to collect information about this person. Although Han Sui and Ma Teng are opposite-sex brothers, their personalities are very different. Ma Teng still seems to be loyal to the Han family, and even if he is king, he does not show much ambition. It is Han Sui who seems to be fighting against the Qiang people in Anding County, but he has a lot of difficulties with the Qiang people in private. ”

"The minister suspects that the entry of the Qiang people into the hinterland of the Central Plains is very likely to be instigated by Han Sui."

How the Qiang people entered, Xiang Ao didn't care anymore, after all, it was a foregone conclusion. It was the incident between Han Sui and Ma Teng mentioned by Li Jin that made Xiang Ao's eyes shine.

"In this way, Ma Teng and Han Sui are not compatible?"

"Highly likely!"

It seems that there are a lot of interesting things about Xiliang's trip, Xiang Ao thought to himself with a chuckle, and then ordered loudly: "Shiyuan, order the three armies, cross the green mountains, and send troops to settle down." ”

"No!"

"How the situation is stabilized, this king will know as soon as he tries it!"

Xiang Ao said this, and the soldiers in the tent were stunned for a while. Instead of speculating again about whether Han Sui really colluded with the Qiang people, it was better for a large army to come to the city.

In Linjing City, the administrative office of Anding County (now in the area of Linjing Township in the northeast of Zhenyuan County, Gansu Province).

"Uncle Wenyue, the army of the Yan Kingdom has arrived, and it is a good opportunity to expel the Qiang people from Xiliang, why do you want to help the Qiang people maintain stability?!"

Ma Teng's son, Ma Chao, stood in front of Han Sui, restrained the anger in his heart, and questioned in a deep voice.

Ma Chao became famous as a young man, and before he reached the crown, he created a great reputation in Xiliang, and his reputation faintly surpassed Han Sui and Ma Teng. Although Ma Chao is a Han Chinese, he is friendly with various foreign tribes living in Xiliang, but he has a grudge against the Qiang people who are constantly fighting. Perhaps affected by the environment, Ma Chao doesn't care too much about racial differences, as long as he has a similar temperament and is not bad in nature, he will be regarded by Ma Chao as his own clansman.

Ma Chao's martial arts are unparalleled, and he is known as the first warrior in Xiliang. After Dong Zhuo's defeat, many forces in Xiliang were only looking forward to Ma Chao.

"Meng Qi's nephew!" Han Sui looked distressed and returned: "Xiang Ao of the Yan Kingdom is powerful, and he has raised an army of 100,000 to attack the land of Wuxi Liang, does Meng Qi's nephew think that he can resist Xiang Ao's soldiers with tens of thousands of soldiers and horses?" ”

"Although the Qiang people are barbarians in Western Xinjiang and don't know how to count, but the Qiang people's talent for fighting, I'm afraid Meng Qi's nephew has to admire it, right? Since most of Anding County has been occupied by the Qiang people, why not negotiate peace with the Qiang people at this time, recognize the status of the Qiang people's Anding County, and let the Qiang people be our vanguard and consume Xiang Ao's soldiers and horses? ”

"A plan is a good plan, and my nephew is not a pedantic person." Ma Chao did not let go and continued: "But the Qiang people have wolf ambitions, they want to be stable today, and they will dare to ask for martial arts tomorrow." If the Qiang army is allowed to occupy the two counties of Wuwei and Anding, even if Xiang Ao is repulsed, how can the uncle repel the Qiang people? ”

"To the north of Wuwei and Anding counties, there is the Great Wall built by our ancestors with great effort. Now that the northern land has been recovered by Xiang Ao, and the Qiang people have shrunk into Anding County, it is better to write to Xiang Ao and join forces with Xiang Ao to drive the Qiang people out of Xiliang? ”

Han Sui's face looked extremely anxious, and he stepped forward and patted Ma Chao's arm and continued: "Nephew, think about it, Qiang people or Xiang Ao, which one is more difficult to deal with?" ”

"Of course it's Xiang Ao!" Ma Chao didn't think about it, and blurted out.

"So it's over?" Han Sui asked rhetorically and continued: "Although the Qiang people are not weak, within more than 100 years of our Han Dynasty, countless soldiers and horses have been spent on financial resources and have not been able to subdue the Qiang people. But Xiban is Xiban after all, if it weren't for the natural danger, how could the Qiang people be arrogant at this time? ”

On the other hand, today's Xiang Ao, who is in charge of the three states of Hebei, has strong soldiers and horses, and there are countless generals under his command. Today, Xiang Ao can occupy the northern land, and tomorrow he will be able to take stability. It won't take too much time for the army to go straight to the rear of Wuxiliang, and what resistance will Meng Qi's nephew take at that time? ”

"But..."When Ma Chao heard this, Xiang Ao continued to refute, but he didn't know where to start, and his face turned red.

"This matter is decided for the time being, and presumably Brother Shoucheng intends to do the same. Meng Qi's nephew still returned to the barracks to practice soldiers and horses. ”

When it comes to Ma Teng, Ma Chao is even more speechless. This time, Ma Chao led his troops to settle down, and he came to support Han Sui at the behest of Ma Teng, although Ma Teng did not approve of the alliance with the Qiang people.

For the sake of the Qiang people, Ma Chao and Ma Teng have quarreled countless times. Although Ma Teng was unwilling to form an alliance with the Qiang people, Ma Teng, who was reluctant to have the power in his hands, said no, but in actual action, he acquiesced to Han Sui's dealings with the Qiang people again and again, which made Ma Chao resentful. In desperation, Ma Chao had to leave resentfully.

When Ma Chao returned to the barracks, he found Pang De, a general who had followed his father for many years. Pound De is Ma Chao's father's general at any time and has made great achievements, but compared with Ma Teng and Ma Chao, Pound is more willing to fight with Ma Chao on the battlefield.

Since Ma Chao was sensible, he has always been taught by Pound, although he has no master-apprentice status, but he has the reality of mentor and apprentice, and Ma Chao also has great respect and trust for Pound.

"Uncle Ling Ming, Han Sui is not credible."

Pang De saw Ma Chao's thoughts, stepped forward and patted Ma Chao lightly on the shoulder and said, "Meng Qi doesn't have to worry. Han Sui is greedy for power and cunning. Although he gave up the position of the leader of Xiliang to the lord, he never dispelled the mind of the lord. ”

"This time King Yan went to Xiliang, the most anxious person is probably Han Sui."

Hearing this, Ma Chao looked at Pound, and then nodded.

Ma Dai on the side also stepped forward to comfort Ma Chao and said: "Brother, don't worry, although King Yan's expedition to Xiliang is a bad thing, it is also a good thing." Under such tremendous pressure, Dai Di believed that Han Sui would reveal his true nature in a few days. ”

Ma Dai is Ma Chao's younger brother, who grew up with Ma Chao since he was a child and has a very close relationship. Ma Chao and Ma Dai both seem to have inherited the bloodline of Xianbei bravery, and both have the courage of a husband.

Ma Chao looked at the two of them, and said with a reluctant smile: "Yesterday, the scouts came to report that the army of the Yan State had been drawn and sent troops to Sanshui (now in the area of Beihongchengshui Ancient City, Xiamaguan Town, Northeast Tongxin County, Ningxia), and the Qiang people in the area north of Anding don't know how long they can resist. ”

When Pang De heard this, he frowned slightly and asked, "Then I don't know what Meng Qi is going to do?" Assist in the defense of the Qiang people, or..."

"Hey, hey! No hurry! Ma Chao smiled evilly and said: "The Qiang people are not muddy, even if the army of the Yan Kingdom is large, it will not be so easy to take Sanshui." I can take the opportunity to see and see how the famous Yan King, the former hussar general, is mighty. ”

Pang De and Ma Dai were stunned when they heard this, and then laughed uncontrollably.

No matter what Ma Chao decided later, Xiang Ao's army did not stop at all, and attacked from Fuping towards Sanshui. Along the way, it is indispensable to encounter the strongman cavalry of all sizes wandering in Anding County. After fighting, Xiang Ao's 100,000 troops rushed to within 100 miles outside Sanshui City.