In October of the third year of Zhongping (186 AD), Ma Yue took 100,000 Qinhu people and more than 10,000 Qinhu troops to return to Meiji, and with the demise of Qinhu, Ma Yue officially occupied the Hetao and became the actual ruler of the Hetao grassland.

With the arrival of winter, a heavy snow froze the entire Hetao, as well as the desert grassland, Ma Yuejun finally ushered in the calmest winter, Ma Yue while paying close attention to the movements of the imperial court and the Liangshu Prefecture, while intensively preparing for the war against the Xianbei people in the spring of the next year.

The Northern Expedition to Xianbei is an established strategy, if you want to enter the Central Plains, you must first relieve your worries, Xianbei people will not be destroyed, Ma Yue will not be able to go south, or start a strategy against the surrounding and Liang states.

When Ma Yue was recuperating and preparing for a decisive battle with the Xianbei people in the coming year, the imperial court and other warlords were not idle.

With the assistance of the military advisor Li Ru, Dong Zhuo, the general of the Qiang Zhonglang, finally completed the conquest of Zhuqiang, Le Jie, Xian Ling, and Baima Zhuqiang, and under the strategy of Dong Zhuo's envy, Zhuqiang surrendered one after another, and by the end of the year, Dong Zhuo had formed a mixed Han and Qiang army of up to 60,000 troops.

This army is all composed of the Qiang people and the Hu Han people, the extremely harsh living conditions in the border area have created this army to bear hardships and stand hard work, not afraid of casualties of the fierce style, with the growth of this Han and Qiang mixed army, the strength of Dong Zhuo, the commander of the Qiang Zhonglang, also quickly became stronger, becoming the most powerful warlord in the late Han Dynasty.

In the first month of the fourth year of Zhongping, the worried Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty officially issued an edict to reset Shuozhou in order to provoke a scuffle between the major warlords in the north and weaken the local strength, and appointed Ding Yuan as the pastor of Shuozhou, Ma Yue was transferred to Liangzhou as the assassin of Liangzhou, Geng Cong was reappointed as the general of the Zhonglang of Huqiang, Dong Zhuo was the assassin of Jizhou, and Han Fu was the pastor of the state.

After receiving the edict, the five major warlords really ignored it, and all of them refused to take office in their original administrative offices.

However, in mid-February, Dong Zhuo adopted the advice of the military advisor Li Ru, and suddenly led 20,000 elite soldiers to the east, threatening to go to Jizhou to take up his post on orders, but after the army arrived in Hedong, he launched a surprise attack and captured Hedong County in one fell swoop.

……

Luoyang, North Palace.

"It's too arrogant!" Emperor Han Ling slapped his palm on the imperial case fiercely, and Long Yan said angrily, "What does Dong Zhuo want to do?" Neither returned to Longxi, nor continued to march into Jizhou, the 20,000 army just stayed in Hedong County and didn't leave!? He's poking a knife at the tip of my heart. ”

"The most hateful thing is that Yang Feng actually led his troops to take refuge in Dong Zhuo." Yuan Kui, the captain of Si Li, said angrily, "Your Majesty, Dong Zhuo has no ruler, and Yang Feng has lost his minister's festival, all of which are great rebellions, and the old minister is willing to lead Si Li's elite soldiers to crusade." ”

"By no means, Your Majesty." Situ Wang Yun hurriedly said, "Dong Zhuo is certainly a great rebel and deserves to be punished for his crimes, but he has 100,000 soldiers and 1,000 generals under his command. ”

Cai Yong also persuaded: "What Wang Situ said is extremely true, Dong Zhuo's tiger and wolf division is not comparable to the rabble of the Yellow Turban!" If you really want Dong Zhuo's tiger and wolf army to attack Luoyang, the Han Society is in danger~~"

Yuan Kui said angrily: "Is it just like that? Dong Zhuo is so lawless and perverse, if the court does not react, how can the Son of Heaven have face? ”

"Face is a small matter, survival is a big matter." Wang Yun said, "Your Majesty thinks twice. ”

[At the end of the Han Dynasty, the imperial court named Dong Zhuo as the assassin of the state, Dong Zhuo was unwilling to hand over the military power, and led a large army to enter Hedong, which is indeed true]

Emperor Han Ling took a deep breath, tried his best to calm the anger in his heart, and said in a deep voice: "What Wang Aiqing said is not unreasonable, after the death of Zhu Jun and Huangfu Song, there are no unscrupulous generals in the court, Yuan Aiqing's loyalty is commendable, but the new army of Si Li has just been formed, how can it be the opponent of Dong Thief's Tiger and Wolf Army?" Anyway, he sent an envoy to Anyi to reprimand Dong Zhuo, and ordered him to leave Hedong and go to Yecheng to take office. ”

"Alas~"

Yuan Kui stomped his feet and sighed.

Wang Yun and Cai Yong bent down and said respectfully, "Your Majesty Shengming." ”

Emperor Han Ling waved his hand and said, "Yuan Aiqing and Cai Aiqing, please go back to the house, Wang Aiqing stays, I have something to discuss." ”

Seeing Yuan Kui and Cai Yong leaving, Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty said to Wang Yun: "Wang Aiqing, Dong Zhuo's 20,000 elite soldiers are stationed in Hedong, and they may cross the river south to enter Kou Jinggi at any time, this is by no means a long-term solution, can Qing have a good plan to deal with it?" ”

Wang Yun said: "Dong Zhuo's 20,000 elite soldiers went out of Hedong, although the imperial court was uncomfortable, but there was one person who was even more uncomfortable than His Majesty. ”

"Oh?" Emperor Han Ling's eyes lit up again when he heard this, and he suddenly said, "You mean Ma Yue?" ”

"Not bad." Wang Yun nodded and said, "Hedong and Hetao are only separated by a water, and the distance from the north is less than five hundred miles, Dong Zhuo's soldiers out of Hedong are like a sharp knife against Ma Yue's abdomen, and after that, whether Ma Yue uses troops to the east, west or north, he must be on guard against Dong Zhuo's 20,000 elite soldiers at any time." ”

Emperor Han Ling said: "I understand, what Wang Aiqing means is that if Ma Yue doesn't want to be subject to Dong Zhuo, he must try to pull out this nail." ”

"Exactly." Wang Yun said, "However, Dong Zhuo and Ma Yue are not ordinary people, and now the two of them are afraid of each other, and before the time to turn their faces, they will never easily start a war when they are idle, but the minister is worried that these two people will be embarrassed and secretly form an alliance, so that the situation of the court will be extremely bad." ”

Emperor Han Ling lost his voice and said: "Embarrassment, secret alliance? Is this possible? ”

Wang Yun said: "Whether it is possible or not, Your Majesty must plan for the worst, and the minister has a plan, which can make Ma Yue and Dong Zhuo turn against each other, and there is no possibility of forming an alliance." ”

"Will the plan be released?"

"Dong Zhuo is greedy and lustful, and when he was in the middle of the court, he greatly admired the beauty of Princess Yiyang, and always had a desire for non-part." Wang Yun said this, and found that there was no displeasure on Emperor Han Ling's face, so he continued, "Your Majesty can send an envoy to Hetao, and it is said that Your Majesty intends to give Princess Yiyang to Ma Yue as his wife, and then arrange for the princess's honor guard to go to Hetao through Hedong, Dong Zhuo does not know about His Majesty's marriage, and he is greedy for the princess's beauty, so he will definitely intercept the car, so Dong Zhuo and Ma Yue will have the hatred of taking his wife, and Ma Yue will no longer ally with Dong Zhuo in public and private." ”

Emperor Han Ling's expression was gloomy, and he said unhappily for a while: "In this way, Dong Zhuo and Ma Yue certainly have a hatred for taking his wife, but my royal sister was robbed by the courtiers, wouldn't she also have to lose face, don't the scholars and people of the world want to see my jokes and poke my backbone?" ”

Wang Yun said: "It's okay, Your Majesty can push the boat down the river to marry the princess to Dong Zhuo, what is the loss of face?" ”

"Hmm~~" Emperor Han Ling's expression moved, and he nodded, "It's worth a try." ”

Wang Yun said: "Your Majesty, there are still a few pieces of news, and the minister doesn't know whether to talk about it or not." ”

Emperor Han Ling: "But it's okay to talk about it. ”

Wang Yundao: "As far as the minister knows, Changsha Taishou Sun Jian (Sun Jian was originally Nanyang Taishou, in order to suppress the Star Rebellion in Changsha District, the imperial court transferred Sun Jian to Changsha Taishou) and Jingzhou Thorn Shi Liu Biao have recently had a bad relationship, and the two are recruiting troops and preparing for war, and it seems that a melee will soon break out in the land of Jingxiang." ”

"Why is that?"

"After the Star Rebellion in Changsha District subsided, Sun Jian took the opportunity to collect 100,000 rebellious people, selected 8,000 young people to perform at night, and also bought military horses and built weapons and armor.

"What else?"

"There is also a detailed return, Yangzhou Assassin Shi Yuan Shu, Qiaojun Taishou Cao Ying, Yanzhou Mu Liu Dai and Xuzhou Assassin Shi Taoqian and others are all recruiting troops and horses, in the name of resisting the attack of the Yellow Turban Thieves, but since Zhang Jiao's death, the Yellow Turban Thieves have long been worried, so why bother so much?"

"The situation in the north is undecided, I didn't expect the war in the south to break out again, alas~~"

Emperor Han Ling let out a long sigh, and the melancholy of his eyebrows became two points thicker, could it be that ~~ Is the Great Han Dynasty really exhausted? No, it won't, it won't! The Han Dynasty's Jiangshan Sheji will never be lost in my hands, and I am determined to pacify the local separatist warlords and pass the country to the prince in person~~

……

Meiji, Ma Yue's big tent.

Guo Tu hurriedly entered and said to Ma Yue: "Lord, make a careful return, Yang Feng, the Taishou of Hedong, has already led the army to join Dong Zhuo." ”

"Really?" Ma Yue Huoran stood up, casually handed the infant Ma Zheng to Liu Yan, and asked, "So Dong Zhuo has already occupied Hedong County?" ”

Guo Tu said: "Exactly. ”

Ma Yue Zou frowned and said: "If Dong Zhuo is based in Hedong, it is like a sharp knife in the soft underbelly of the general, if he can't try to reverse the situation, from now on, the general will have to be subject to him everywhere." ”

"My lord, Dong Zhuo's move is mostly aimed at the imperial court, and the lord is secondary, if Xu is not bad, Dong Zhuo will soon send an envoy to the Hetao to seek to secretly conclude an alliance with the lord." Jia Xu said this, and then said, "However, the expansion of Dong Zhuo's power is too rapid, and it has already posed a serious threat to the lord, so I think ~~ I should still try to contain it." ”

"Hmm." Ma Yue nodded and said, "What Wen He said is exactly what I want, although our army is unable to fight Dong Zhuo head-on at the moment, it can't watch Dong Zhuo sit big and do nothing, we should think of a way to contain it, at least we can't let this guy develop too smoothly." ”

"Lord, Dong Zhuo seems to be powerful, but there is a fatal hidden danger." Jia Xu said, "Before the Battle of Hetao, Geng was strong, Dong Zhuo was weak and Han Sui was restrained, Dong Zhuo had no choice but to keep his light and keep his eyes open, but the Battle of Hetao gave Dong Zhuo a rare opportunity, Dong Zhuo not only took the opportunity to ambush Yang Qiu, Cheng Yin and other Han Sui's old troops, but also conquered Burndang, Sister Le, Baima, and Xianling Zhuqiang in one fell swoop with the help of Han Sui's old department, and formed an army of 60,000 troops. ”

"Now the situation in Liangzhou has been completely reversed, Dong Zhuo is strong and Geng is weak! However, Geng Contempt still controls a broader territory and richer resources, so neither Geng Contempt nor Dong Zhuo will sit idly by and watch this situation continue. I'm afraid that it won't be long before there will be a fierce battle between Dong Zhuo and Geng Contempt. ”

Pei Yuanshao on the side suddenly said: "Why don't you take advantage of the scuffle between Dong Zhuo and Geng Contempt to send troops to attack Hedong?" ”

Jia Xu shook his head and said: "Dong Zhuo is ambitious, I'm afraid that he won't give up Hedong easily, and even if our army can capture Hedong, with the current manpower, troops, and material resources of the lord, I'm afraid that he won't be able to withstand the three-sided attack of Bingzhou, Liangzhou and even Sili, so I think it's better not to attack Hedong." ”

Pei Yuanshao frowned and said: "If you don't send troops to attack Hedong, can you directly send troops to Liangzhou and participate in the melee?" ”

Jia Xu nodded and said, "Yes, the lord wants to participate in the melee in Liangzhou, but he can't send troops." ”

Pei Yuanshao was stunned and said: "If you don't send troops, how can you participate in the melee?" ”

Jia Xu said: "It's very simple, because there is another uncertain factor in the melee in Liangzhou, that is, the lord's uncle~~ Ma Teng, the fierce general of Xiliang!" ”

"Ma Teng!" Ma Yue's eyes flashed, and he said in a condensed voice, "Uncle Teng? ”

……

Hedong County, Anyi.

In the meeting hall of Taishou Mansion, Dong Zhuo was discussing with the military advisor Li Ru and the general Xu Rong.

Dong Zhuo asked Li Ru, "Has the envoy sent to Meiji ever set off?" ”

"Don't worry, my lord, I already set off two days ago." Li Ru responded, and said with excitement on his face, "The lord took Hedong County, just like inserting a sharp knife in the heart of the Han Dynasty, entering the states that can attack and merge, Hebei, Henan, Yan, and Sili, and retreating to defend Guanzhong and Liangzhou, which can be said to have opened the door for my Liangzhou army to advance into the Central Plains!" ”

Li Ru said this, his eyes showed a solemn expression, and then said: "However, there is still a hidden danger under the lord that needs to be eliminated as soon as possible. ”

Dong Zhuo's eyes flashed, and he said, "Wen Xiu is talking about Geng Contempt? ”

"Not bad." Li Ru nodded and said, "Although there are 60,000 elite soldiers under the command of the lord, Geng Cong also has 20,000 elite cavalry in his hands, and more importantly, Geng Cong also controls Zhangye's Shandan Military Horse Farm!" If the lord can get rid of Geng Contempt, dominate Liangzhou, and take the Shandan Military Horse Farm as his own, he will immediately be able to form a powerful cavalry that can sweep through the Central Plains. ”

"Hmm." Dong Zhuo nodded and said, "But Wen Xiu also said just now, Geng still has 20,000 elite cavalry, and Ma Teng, the general under his command, is even brave and good at fighting, and even won the support of the Qiang soldiers. ”

Li Ru said: "The lord doesn't have to worry, Confucianism has a plan to break the enemy, and getting rid of Geng Cong is on the Xiliang fierce general Ma Teng." ”

"Let Xiliang kill Ma Teng and Geng Contempt?" Dong Zhuo was stunned and said, "Wen Xiu said with a smile, how is this possible?" You need to know that Ma Teng has been poor since he was a child, and Geng Contempt pulled him up from an ordinary soldier, and Ma Teng is a loyal and righteous man, how could he do that beast and betray Geng Contempt? ”

"Why can't it?" Li Ruyin said with a smile, "Geng despises Ma Teng for his kindness, and Ma Teng is indeed a loyal and righteous man, but don't forget that Ma Teng is still the descendant of General Fubo and Ma Yuan, and he is also the uncle of Ma Yuema Butcher!" The previous time the four-way army cut down the Hetao together, there was already a gap between Geng Con and Ma Teng, otherwise, Geng Cong would not have led the army with Cheng Qiu's straw bag as the general. ”

"Yes!" Dong Zhuo slapped his head and shouted, "General Ben actually forgot about this. ”

Li Ru continued: "Geng Contempt is afraid of Ma Yuexing's retaliation, and he is even more afraid that Ma Teng will become Ma Yue's internal response, the lord only needs to fan the flames from it, it is not difficult to provoke the fight between Geng Contempt and Ma Teng, as the so-called two tigers fight, there must be an injury, in the end, no matter who wins, the Liangzhou army will be greatly injured, the lord can go to the court, lead the Liangzhou pastor, send troops to calm the chaos, and control the situation in Liangzhou in one fell swoop." ”

General Xu Rong said: "It is worthy of being the military advisor of the lord, this plan is really clever!" ”

Li Ru said proudly: "After the lord controls Liangzhou, he can lead the elite division to the south of Guanzhong, and then support the people in the pass to the east of Hangu and Tongguan, and then send a general to lead the elite people of Hedong to the south to attack, at this time, hum, who else in the world can stop the lord from taking the Han and replacing him?" ”

Dong Zhuo was enthusiastically boiled by Li Ru's words, Huo Ran stood up and said quickly: "Wen Xiu, immediately send someone to sneak back to Liangzhou to spread rumors, just say that Ma Yue has raised 30,000 troops and is ready to attack Liangzhou, and Ma Teng has secretly formed an alliance with Ma Yue and is ready to welcome Ma Yue into Liangzhou." ”

Li Ru said: "Confucian~~ take orders. ”

……

Longxian, Liangzhou military camp.

Pang De hurriedly walked into Ma Teng's tent, hugged his fists and said, "The last general will see the general." ”

"Ling Ming, are you here?" Ma Teng solemnly said, "And take a seat." ”

Pang De sat cross-legged opposite Ma Teng with his sword and asked, "I don't know what is the important matter for the general to summon the last general to come?" ”

Ma Teng sighed and asked, "Ling Ming, how many years have you been following General Ben?" ”

Pang De said: "The last general joined the army seventeen times, and he was a personal soldier under the general's account, and he has been in the army for six years and eight months. ”

Ma Teng asked, "How is General Ben treating you?" ”

Pang De said: "The general treats a certain grace with his parents, if it is not for the general's support, how can he come to a certain place today?" ”

"That's good." Ma Teng said in a condensed voice, "Ling Ming, tell General Ben the truth, have you heard any rumors in the camp recently?" ”

Pound's face changed, and he hesitated: "This~~"

Ma Teng said in a deep voice: "Speak! ”

Pang De lowered his head and replied, "There are many rumors in the camp that the general is ungrateful and intends to turn his back on Lord Geng and welcome Ma Yue into the main Liangzhou. ”

"Ping!"

"General Ben was born poor, but he is also loyal and good, and he still knows the etiquette of loyalty and filial piety, how can he be that ungrateful?" Ma Teng slapped his palm on the table and said angrily, "It is a fact that Ma Yue is the assassin of Liangzhou who was enshrined by the imperial court, and it is also a fact that this general is the uncle of Ma Yue, can this general still reverse black and white and confuse right and wrong?" Especially hateful, how can this slander General Ben for having the heart to betray Lord Geng!? ”

Pang De said: "Yes, the general's loyalty and righteousness are well known, and Lord Geng must also know it, so the general doesn't have to pay attention to such gossip." ”

Ma Teng said angrily: "I don't know who is chewing the root of the tongue in secret?" If General Ben knows, he will be broken into ten thousand pieces! ”

Pound persuaded: "As the saying goes, those who are turbid are turbid, and those who are clear are self-purifying, and the general is not afraid of shadows, since it is a rumor, there will always be a day when it subsides." ”

"Having said that, General Ben is still a little relieved." Ma Teng said to Pang De, "Ling Ming, you immediately order a hundred elite soldiers to enter the city overnight to protect Sima Mansion, without the general's military order, no one is allowed to wait within ten steps of Sima Mansion, and those who violate the order ~~ behead!" ”

Pang De said loudly: "The last general obeys the order." ”

After that, Pang De stood up and ordered a hundred elite soldiers to enter the city overnight, and Ma Teng was relieved.

……

Longxian, Liangzhou Thorn Mansion.

Geng contemptuously paced back and forth in the hall worriedly, and recently there have been rumors in the streets and alleys, all saying that Ma Teng intends to welcome Ma Yue into the main Liangzhou! Geng Contempt knew that Ma Teng was loyal and righteous, and he didn't believe it when he was killed, but after all, he couldn't stand the invasion of these rumors, and doubts gradually arose in his heart.

After all, Ma Yue and Ma Teng belong to the same clan, they are both famous generals after Ma Yuan, and Ma Teng is still Ma Yue's uncle in terms of generation! Once Ma Yue really led the army to attack, who could guarantee that Ma Teng would not have any dissenting intentions? Ma Teng is a general in the Liangzhou army, and he has a lot of prestige in the hearts of the soldiers, once Ma Teng throws himself at Ma Yue, the consequences will be unimaginable.

Geng thought about it, and always felt relieved, so he sent a team of people to protect Ma Teng's Sima Mansion, in the name of protecting Ma Teng's family from idle people, etc., in fact, it was to take Ma Teng's family hostage, so that Ma Teng threw a mouse trap and did not dare to act rashly.

Less than half a day after the men and horses were sent out, Fu Xie, the Taishou of Hanyang, hurriedly came to the Assassin's Mansion to meet Geng Xian.

When they met, Fu Xie was not polite, and said straight to the point: "My lord, how can you send troops to surround Ma Teng's Sima Mansion?" ”

Geng smiled embarrassedly, and said: "Isn't General Ben worried that some radicals will listen to the rumors and be unfavorable to General Ma Teng's family, so he sent a team of people to protect Ma Teng's Sima Mansion, is there anything wrong with this official doing this?" ”

"Oops." Fu Xie smacked the festival and said, "The adult's original intention is certainly good, but Ma Teng may not be willing to appreciate it." ”

(To be continued)