Xiliang, Wuwei County.

Looking at the environment outside the city, there is loess flying sand, and the greenery is scarce, but compared with Loulan City, among the various cities under the jurisdiction of Wuwei County, there are still more or less fertile fields cultivated by farmers, as well as beautiful houses where people live.

It was the northwestern frontier of the Han Dynasty and was currently ruled by Ma Teng and his brother Han Sui. Ma Teng, whose name is Shoucheng, is rumored to be the descendant of Ma Yuan, the general of Fubo, and whether it is true or not, the world no longer knows.

This Ma Teng married a Qiang girl in his early years, and had no daughters under his knees, and among the many sons born, there is one who can be described as martial arts and appearance, and he is even more loved, this person's name is Ma Chao, the word Meng Qi.

In the winter of 190, Ma Teng sent Ma Chao to Loulan to find Ma Lu, the owner of a large business, to find military funds because of the scarcity of money in the army.

Since then, Ma Lu's big merchants have naturally befriended Ma Teng's Xiliang army.

In order to thank Ma Lu for his kindness, Ma Teng proposed to Ma Lu that he should come forward and accept Ma Lu as his righteous daughter first, and then play the imperial court to remove Ma Lu's wanted in the Central Plains.

After several hesitations, Ma Lu discussed with his subordinates Ma Wen and Ma Wu many times, and finally was forced to agree to this request.

In the spring of 191, the whole land of China ushered in a warm spring breeze, and Ma Lu also came to Weiwu County at that time, worshiping Ma Teng as his father-in-law.

And because when he was in Loulan, Ma Lu used to give money extensively, spread kindness in all directions, and helped many Qiang people who were hungry and poor, so the Qiang people admired Ma Lu very much in their hearts.

Since ancient times, the Qiang people have been called "the people on the clouds", and they also call Ma Lu by the word cloud.

Over time, the people in the northwest called Ma Lu Ma Yunlu, and Ma Lu also became Ma Teng's daughter completely, only a few people knew her original origin, after all, the northwest was far away from the imperial capital Luoyang, even if she was a business owner in Luoyang who was a collection of charm and wisdom, the people of the northwest at this time did not know.

General Ma Teng's Mansion in Wuwei County is located in the center of the county town, and there is also a lotus pond in the back garden of the mansion that does not match here.

Beside the white stone railing, eighteen-year-old Ma Lu wearing a purple scarf and a silk skirt was leaning on it, staring at the lotus flowers in the pool, his eyebrows frowning slightly, and his heart was thoughtful.

Suddenly, there was a heroic shout of a young man.

"Yunlu!" "Yunlu!"

Ma Lu turned his head and found that it was Ma Chao, the son of Ma Teng, that is, the young general who had asked him to borrow military funds in the past. He was running towards her, and Marlu's face showed a hint of displeasure, but it was replaced by joy at the sight of the comer.

In her heart, she doesn't like the name "Ma Yunlu"; But for Ma Chao, she has a good impression, even if she knows that Ma Chao is only fifteen years old now, and she is eighteen years old, which is considered an old woman.

Seeing that Ma Chao trotted all the way and ran in front of him, and his breath did not worsen, Ma Lu smiled appreciatively and asked, "Meng Qi, why are you in such a hurry, what happened?" ”

Ma Chao was wearing silver armor, but he didn't wear a helmet, and his fair and handsome face was exposed under the yellow sand, which made him even more a handsome young general. He happily said to Ma Lu: "Yunlu, let me tell you, my father's recital to the court a few days ago has been approved, and it is estimated that soon, your wanted warrant from Xiliang to Chang'an will be revoked!" ”

When Ma Lu heard the news, she was immediately overjoyed, and she was depressed for several days, just worried that Dong Zhuo would not let go of herself on the side of the court. However, it seems that Dong Zhuo has only been spoiling Diao Chan recently, and he has long been unable to care about her.

In addition to being happy, Ma Lu was still a little unhappy, his grinning little mouth also froze there with a smile, and his eyes wandered to the wilderness in the distance.

wants her to hand over all the business of Loulan to Ma Wen and Ma Wu to take care of; But he didn't bring any family guards, and came to this Wuwei County alone. Living here, although everything goes smoothly and no one makes things difficult, after all, she is "under the roof", she still has to be cautious and low-key.

This suppressed her originally arrogant and brutal character, how could she be happy?

Two, she is eighteen years old, and women in this era will be a little sentimental at this age.

"Meng Qi ......" Ma Lu remembered something, came back to his senses, looked at Ma Chao, and said slowly with a reluctant smile: "I don't like the name Ma Yunlu, can you stop calling me Yunlu?" ”

After hearing this, Ma Chao hesitated for a moment and frowned, but then he stretched out, he reached out and patted Ma Lu's shoulder, and smiled happily: "Hey, Yunlu, what's wrong with you?" Don't you look down on the Qiang people for the name you are called? You must know that although the Qiang people have been in the wilderness for a long time and do not need to be civilized by the Central Plains, they are kind-hearted and can fight well, and I have the blood of the Qiang people! ”

Ma Lu sighed, turned around and continued to look at the lotus pond, no longer wanting to pay attention to Ma Chao, she felt that this young general was good at everything, but she was stupid and didn't understand the girl's thoughts.

A breeze of yellow sand blew, the red lips behind the purple scarf pursed tightly, and the green leaves in the lotus pond shook slightly for a while. Seeing this scene, Ma Lu smiled, she remembered her mansion in Luoyang, and there was also a lotus pond in it.

Also, she also remembered the boy who was ignorant of the world.

Maybe it's because her family has a big business, and she thinks that just a ** cloud boot can't be compared with life-saving grace, and in Ma Lu's heart, she always feels that she owes Zhao Yue something.

However, after all, Zhao Yue was just an ordinary soldier in the declining Han Dynasty, and if he had the opportunity to go to the battlefield, he was only a pawn for others. It's been a year and a half since she last met him, and she really doubts that the person named Zhao Yue can ensure that she is safe and sound in the troubled times?

The girl sighed, her eyes were fascinated, but she said sneeringly, "I really wish I could see you again." ”

Ma Chao originally leaned his back against the white stone railing, put his arms on the railing, looked up at the sky comfortably, and when he heard Ma Lu beside him say this, he scratched his head in puzzlement and said, "Yunlu, am I not by your side?" ”

Ma Lu turned his head helplessly, looked at Ma Chao with a blank face, and finally shook his head and said nothing......

At this time, the Central Plains, Nanyang County under the rule of Jingzhou, Wancheng.

In the past, the princes of the anti-Dong Zhuo United Army were stationed here, and this prince was the younger brother of the alliance leader Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, and Yuan Highway. After Sun Jian's death, Sun Ce led his father's old subordinates to Wancheng with hatred and took refuge in Yuan Shu, in order to polish his immature fangs, and then reappeared.

Yuan Shu had a discordant relationship with Yuan Shao because of the difference between his concubines and concubines, and almost both of them adopted the strategy of distant friendship and close attack to contain each other. That is, Yuan Shu was friendly with Gongsun Zan in Hebei, and Yuan Shao was friendly with Liu Biao in Jingzhou.

Sun Ce ignored the shame of the military rations when he opposed Dong Zhuo, and came to Yuan Shu, the reason was also to be able to use Yuan Shu's power to conquer Huang Zu in Jiangxia and avenge his father with his own hands.

In a small forest on the outskirts of Wancheng, a four-year-old girl was holding a broken longbow that she had found out of nowhere, pulling desperately, with tears in her eyes, clumsy movements and weak strength forced her to lie on the ground, and her hands and feet were used to draw the bow, and the ridiculous and pitiful appearance made her whole body dirty.

"Little county lord, don't try it, I can't even pull the bow." The maid secretly touched the tears in the corners of her eyes, and then pretended to be happy and persuaded: "Why don't I accompany the little county lord to play elsewhere." ”

"Babble!" Sun Shangxiang screamed in her mouth, her whole body couldn't pull away with all the strength to eat, she stood up angrily, and didn't pat the dust on her body, just put her little face red from the exertion just now, turned her back to the woman, and pretended to be an adult and said: "Shangxiang doesn't care about you!" Daddy was killed by this thing, Shang Xiang must practice well and avenge Daddy in the future! ”

Everything is as the little girl said, Sun Jian was ambushed by Huang Zu in the past, and he was immediately pierced through the heart by ten thousand arrows.