The fragrance, the fragrant taste after being cut into four petals, moistens people's minds. Ma Hong took a knife and slowly removed the papaya from it, then cut a small slice and put it in his mouth, chewing it slowly.

A faint fragrance, slightly bitter.

"Would you like General Zhang to come along?"

Ma Hong smiled slightly.

Zhang He hesitated for a moment and asked tentatively, "Is it delicious?" ”

Ma Hong nodded.

Zhang He picked up a piece, dug a piece with a knife and put it in his mouth, chewed it twice, his face was mixed, papaya was born in the south, and few northerners were used to eating this thing. Zhang He hurriedly put down the papaya, took out two garlic cloves from the bag he was carrying, handed one to Ma Hong, and quickly put it in his mouth to suppress the taste of papaya.

"Throw it in papaya, return it with garlic cloves, hehe, not bad."

Ma Hong took the garlic clove and did not eat it immediately, but put it on the dining table first.

"Brother, the face is familiar."

"Oh, you can eat it, look at the noodles that my brother made that you have never eaten." Ma Hong said with a smile.

Hu Du and Wei Yan both asked, "What face?" ”

"Braised noodles." Ma Hong laughed.

The main fabric of braised noodles is flour, and the ingredients are generally beans, bean sprouts and pork. It is popular in the Central Plains and is more famous for braised noodles in Xiangxian County, Henan.

After bringing up the hot five servings of braised noodles from Ma Tan, Zhang He took the lead in putting the noodles into his mouth with chopsticks, chewed them and said, "Good noodles, dare to ask the lord, how are these stewed noodles made?" ”

"First of all, heat the oil in the pot, heat it, add the green onion and ginger, add the meat slices, soy sauce, salt, fry half-cooked, and add bean sprouts. Stir-fry for a while, prepare the soup in the middle and pour it into the pot to soak the vegetables. After that, spread the noodles, spread them on the dishes, cover the pot, simmer on low heat for a short time, boil the pot and pour a bowl of vegetable soup evenly, and simmer for a short time. Finally, turn off the heat and simmer for a short while, then you are ready to eat. ”

Everyone listened to Ma Hong's explanation while eating stewed noodles. Fox Du said as he stuffed the noodles into his mouth, "This stewed noodles are extremely delicious and easy to make, which is really good." ”

Ma Hong smiled and said, "I forgot to mention that braised noodles with garlic cloves are an excellent match." ”

When Zhang He heard this, he immediately stuffed two garlic cloves in his mouth, and then chewed and ate the stewed noodles.

The generals were eating, and suddenly the scouts came with news, saying that Cao Cao led the army to attack Nanyang, and had reached Luyang, pointing directly to Wancheng, Liu Bei sent someone to ask Ma Hong for assistance, and Nanjun Kuai Yue did not move, and sent someone to tell Ma Hong. Ma Hong sent a message to Kuai Yue, let him watch it for the time being, and don't send troops.

Wu Yi led the main force to reinforce Zhang Ren and Ma Hong around and Dianjiang, the two sides were deadlocked, the battle lasted for half a month, it was late autumn, suddenly from Jingzhou Nanjun came news, Liu Bei was defeated by Cao Cao in Nanyang County, led the army back to Jiangxia, Cao Cao did not pursue Liu Bei, but led a large army to besiege Ma Hong's Xiangyang. Ma Hong was shocked when he heard this, with Liu Bei's troops, he was now facing Cao Cao, who had gone through a big battle with Ma Hong, it was impossible to lose so quickly, unless Liu Bei did it deliberately, and Cao Cao defeated Liu Bei but did not pursue, but attacked Xiangyang, which surprised Ma Hong.

It is possible that Liu Bei deliberately gave way to Cao Cao and let Cao Cao attack Xiangyang. It is possible that Cao Cao had reached an agreement with Liu Bei on some point. Li Yan led a large army from Xiangyang to help, now the army of Jingzhou Ma Hong's territory is only less than 20,000, if Cao Cao besieges Xiangyang, if Liu Bei assists Cao Cao, then Xiangyang will be lost.

Xiangyang is the belly of the world, Nanjun is Ma Hong's hometown, is the foundation, if you lose Xiangyang, it will definitely be like breaking the tiger's teeth and cutting the eagle's minions. Ma Hong immediately made up his mind and ordered Wei Yan to lead an army of 20,000 against Wu Yi, and to supervise the two counties of Basi and Padang, and made Wang Ping a deputy general to assist Wei Yan. Ma Hongqin led an army of 20,000 with Li Yan, Huang Zhong, Hu Du and others to Badong County, wanting to support Xiangyang City in Nanjun from Baidi City (Yong'an).

Jiangxia, Jingling.

Liu Bei tun troops in Jingling, has watched Cao Cao besiege Xiangyang.

Liu Bei's military tent, all the generals were gearing up, Guan Yu had a cold face, and said to Zhuge Liang: "Military advisor, your plan, throw Nanyang County to give way to Cao Cao, if Cao Cao breaks through Xiangyang, will he return our Nanyang County?" ”

Zhuge Liang waved his feather fan and shook his head.

Guan Yu snorted and said: "This is a betrayal of an ally, an unrighteous act, even if you win, it is ......"

"Yun Chang, it was my fault that I didn't discuss this matter with you in advance, but now that I have already acted on it, I ask you to act according to the strategy of the military advisor." Liu Bei said to Guan Yu.

Zhao Yun and Ma Hong on the side also have some friendship, seeing Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang doing this trick to pit Ma Hong, he was also a little puzzled at this time, and couldn't help asking: "Lord, if Cao Cao takes Nanjun, it is impossible to exchange it for Nanyang County, if it is returned to us Nanyang County, once it is returned, his territory will be separated, so it is impossible for him to return it." Then what is the point of us giving way to Cao Cao? Even if Ma Hong's power is very strong now, it is still much weaker than Cao Cao's power, so why do we need to help the strong fight the weak? In this way, we will offend Ma Hong, what good will it do us? ”

Zhang Fei frowned, and said in a loud voice: "Big brother, Yide doesn't understand, the eldest brother gave Nanyang County to Cao Cao and cooperated with Cao Cao, just to want Cao Cao to break through Nanjun, and the eldest brother to occupy the remaining two counties, Wuling County and Lingling County, or we can take advantage of Cao Cao's plan to attack Xiangyang and take most of the territory of Nanjun by surprise, but is this really good?" Will Cao Cao Xing's army mobilize the people, will we be allowed to eat his rations? Then Ma Hong is afraid that he will be even more unwilling, so that we will offend Ma Hong and Cao Cao at the same time, and Jiangdong Sun Quan is eyeing me Jiangxia, he will definitely take advantage of this chaotic battle to send troops to my Jiangxia County, and be enemies of these three parties at the same time, is the eldest brother not considering? ”

Liu Bei said: "Yes, I did make an agreement with that Cao Cao, give him Nanyang County, let him get Nanjun, and I will take Wuling County and Lingling County." ”

"Big brother, you are seeking skin with the tiger, who is Cao Cao? I know best that he will never fulfill the treaty. Guan Yu snorted and said, but when he spoke, his eyes looked at Zhuge Liang directly, full of anger, he Guan Yu had been in Cao Ying for a while, and he had also surrendered to Cao Cao, Cao Cao was very good to him, but Cao Cao's character, Guan Yu really didn't dare to compliment.

"Generals don't have to be angry, Liang conspire to do this, if it is successful, the lord will take a big step forward, and there will be enough capital to compete with Cao Cao and Ma Hong and other princes, if we are imprisoned in this square inch of land, let Ma Hong take Yizhou, then Ma Hong's next dish will be us, I have known Ma Hong for many years, and I am a senior brother, I can't not understand what kind of person he is, and I can't harm the lord." Zhuge Liang explained.

"Huh!" Guan Yu shook his head and looked at Zhuge Liang, and said: "Speaking of which, I originally suspected that the military advisor had colluded with Ma Hong, but now it seems that I am wrong, the mistake is outrageous, you treat your senior brother like this, this is a great injustice." ”

Zhuge Liang said in a loud voice: "General Guan, righteousness is good for individuals, but it is not good for a country. Life is also what I want, righteousness is also what I want, the two cannot be both, for the survival of our army, we can only sacrifice righteousness and survive. (To be continued.) )