Ding Guo was able to bring Sun Li back from Rongcheng smoothly this time, and the credit should go to Ma Tai.

In these days, no one is stupid. Don't look at Ding Guo, he said a lot of nice things when he invited Ma Tai to drink, and he also invited Xu Miao and other rich sons to accompany him, but Ma Tai knew better than anyone else that he could have such treatment, but it was stained with the light of his little brother Sun Li.

Ma Tai didn't expect that he had just casually mentioned Sun Li once in front of Zhao Yun, and within a few days, Liu He Gongzi was so attentive to send people to recruit his brother. Speaking from the heart, although the Sun brothers have good martial arts, after all, they are only born in Baiding, and in terms of status, they are not even as good as themselves as county officials. Liu Gongzigui is the envoy of the Son of Heaven, and he is Liu Yu's eldest son, with his noble status, how can he care so much about a martial artist?

I don't understand, but Ma Tai also knows that the Sun brothers are going to be lucky this time, because he has also heard that when Liu Gongzi was in Xindu, he used An Pingguo to exchange Gongsun Zan for a Zhao Yunlai. Although the son did not take out a country this time, he was also full of sincerity, and I believe that he would not disappoint the Sun brothers.

With such and such thoughts, Ma Tai accompanied Ding Guo to quickly rush back to Rongcheng, met his brother-in-law Ma Tai, and then explained Ding Guo's intention. Ding was not ambiguous, and took out Liu He's handwritten letter directly from his arms, as well as a "Notice of Recruiting Talents", inviting Sun Li to go to Jicheng to accept the appointment of the son.

There was Ma Tai talking on the side, and Sun Li was also very moved, but he was worried that after he left, his mother would have no one to take care of him, so he expressed his worries. Ding Guo made a decision on the spot, and asked Sun Li and Ma Tai to move their family's belongings to Jicheng together, and they will take root in Jicheng in the future.

Jicheng is the seat of Youzhou, the largest city in the northeast of the Han Dynasty, and it is of course something that Sun Li and Ma Tai can't ask for to settle there.

After successfully getting everything done, Ding Guo took dozens of people of all ages and children to Jicheng!

When Liu He saw Sun Li at the main gate of the Prefecture Pastoral Mansion, he saw a slightly young boy, estimated to be seventeen or eight years old. Sun Li is already very tall, more solid than Liu He, his complexion is slightly dark, but his body is strong, his eyes are bright, and he looks full of energy.

"Childe, I am fortunate not to be dishonored, and I will bring you back the brothers of the Sun family!" Ding Guo said excitedly.

At this time, Liu He's face had already bloomed with a smile, and he cast his head with an approving look at Ding Guo.

"Humble Matai, I've seen the eldest prince!"

"Sun Li, the grass people, I've seen the eldest son!"

Ma Tai and Sun Li clasped their fists in turn and saluted Liu He.

"Hurry up and excuse me!" Liu He stretched out his hand to help the two of them.

"Ding, I have to work on you again. You can bring your two relatives and family members to the inn and settle down now, and tomorrow you will choose two houses in the city for me and give them to you!" ”

"Zhengfang, go down, tonight this son will set up a banquet in the mansion to wash the dust for Sun Zhuangshi and Ma Yicao!"

That night, Liu He, who was in a good mood, got drunk, forgot Zhao Aier's advice, and had to take another "gentleness" of pricking his buttocks when he turned around.

On the morning of the next day, Liu He received an urgent report from the direction of Macheng, saying that Zhao Yun had successfully received the second batch of grain teams in charge of Xian Yufu to arrive in Macheng.

Liu Yu agreed to Liu He's request and decided to hand over the command of the garrisons in Macheng and Gaoliu to Liu He, but strictly ordered Liu He not to act without authorization, and he had to wait for Zhao Yun to arrive at the place where the Qiushui and the Xuanshui met with the corresponding team, and Liu He could take the third batch of grain and grass on the road.

Moreover, Liu Yu named Xian Yuyin to escort Liu He on his trip, and he couldn't return to Jicheng until he saw Zhao Yun.

Dad was so careful, and it was also for the sake of Liu He's safety, so the eldest prince had to wait patiently for Zhao Yun to send news in Jicheng.

At the same time, in Nanpi City, Jian Yong met Gongsun Zhan's brothers, Liu Weitai and Li Yizi, and on behalf of Liu Bei, he sent a large number of gold, silver and jewelry to the two, and asked these two greedy guys to help Liu Bei speak.

The gold, silver and jewelry are all the trophies seized by Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and Tian Yu when they suppressed bandits in Anping, although the way is a little wrong, but greedy people like Liu Weitai and Li Yizi will not care. As long as they see money, their eyes will be opened, and they will work extra hard to talk in front of Gongsun Zhan.

Gongsun Chan was fighting with the Yellow Turban Army on the north bank of the Yellow River with the main force at this time, and it was estimated that he would not be able to return to Nanpi for a while, so Jian Yong stayed, and only waited for Gongsun Chan to return, and met him in person, and handled the things Liu Bei explained safely.

If you can provoke the conflict between Gongsun Chan and Liu Yu, it is naturally the best; If such an effect cannot be achieved, at least Gongsun Zan must stand up for Liu Bei, so as not to make excessive demands from Jicheng.

When all parties were in full swing, only Han Fu in Gaoyi City was not in a hurry, he just asked people to pay close attention to the movements in the three directions of Yecheng, Nanpi and Jicheng, especially the news about Liu He Gongzi, Han Fu was very concerned.

Before Liu He left Jizhou, he had a secret conversation with Han Fu for half a night, and as for what was specifically discussed, except for the parties concerned, they had no idea. However, judging from Han Fu's composure during this time, it is estimated that Liu He must have promised him something.

In addition to paying attention to Liu Gongzi's movements, Han Fu also asked people to take care of Zhao Yun's brother Zhao Quan's family, not only arranging the best doctors to treat Zhao Quan's illness, but also specially selecting more than a dozen guards and domestic slaves from the state pastoral mansion and sending them to the house where Zhao Quan lived, protecting the safety of the Zhao family and taking care of Zhao Quan's daily life.

Han Fu heard about some things after Zhao Yun arrived in Youzhou, and now he really can't wait to support Zhao Quan's family as relatives, if something happens in Jizhou in the future, he can't say that he will have to rely on Zhao Yun to lead troops to save it!

On this day, the messenger sent by Zhao Yun to Jicheng finally arrived, and Liu Gongzi, who had already prepared, immediately took the grain team on the road, accompanied by Li Yan, Sun Li and Ma Tai, as well as a thousand infantry. The scale of the grain team this time was particularly huge, with 5,000 people recruited temporarily, and thousands of wagons and ox carts of all kinds combined, and the amount of grain, grass and military funds loaded was more than twice that of the previous two trips, and almost 70% of the official warehouses in Jicheng were emptied.

Xian Yuyin originally had to escort Liu He alive or dead, but when he walked to the city gate, he was chased back by Liu He. Liu He threatened Xian Yuyin, if he dared to follow on the road, he would send someone else to Liaodong.

When Liu He saw Zhao Yun, he was in the place where Xiahoulan had camped, which was located in the north of Zhuolu County.

"I've seen my son!" Zhao Yun respectfully saluted Liu He.

"Zilong doesn't have to be polite, this time is really hard for you! There are at least three trips back and forth marching back and forth by the water, right? Liu He asked with a concerned face.

Zhao Yun smiled faintly and replied, "Well, there are indeed three trips." The first trip was to reinforce Xiahou Sima, the second trip was to receive Xianyu Duwei, and the third trip was to receive Gongzi. ”

"I heard that Yuanqing was injured, what is the situation now?"

"Yuan Qing's chest and abdomen have been hit, and his ribs may have cracked in two, and he needs a period of cultivation and conditioning." Zhao Yun said with some regret.

"It's okay, and let him rest! This time when I go to Macheng, I will definitely vent my evil anger for him. Come, let me introduce you to a young general, his name is Sun Li, the one you mentioned when you left Jicheng! ”

Ma Tai led Sun Li to Zhao Yun and said to Sun Li: "Deda, hurry up and thank Zhao Duwei!" If he hadn't recommended you in front of his son, you would still be chopping firewood in your hometown in Rongcheng! ”

Sun Li hurriedly clasped his fists and saluted Zhao Yun: "Humble Sun Li, I've seen Zhao Duwei!" ”

Zhao Yun looked at Sun Li carefully, nodded, and then warmly returned the salute.

That night, Zhao Yun and Liu He stayed in the same tent and had a long talk.

Don't think that the intimate behavior of the eldest prince and Zhao Shuaiguo is suspected of "stirring the foundation", because in terms of the social atmosphere at that time, only subordinates with a very strong relationship have the opportunity to sleep with the lord and have a long talk. Isn't it recorded in the history books that Liu Da'er often sleeps with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei?

"Zilong, with our current strength, is it possible to completely solve the trouble of Kebineng?"

"It's very difficult. There are two main problems, one is that Yan Rou and us are not of the same heart, at best, he will be strong, if he fights with Xianbei people with real swords, he will definitely retreat; Second, the overall combat strength of our troops is insufficient, although they have the advantage in the total number of troops, they are scattered on a defense line of hundreds of miles, and it is very difficult to concentrate them, so it is impossible to surround and annihilate the flexible and rapid Xianbei people. ”

"What do you think are the reasons for the lack of overall combat strength of the troops?"

"First, the composition of the soldiers is complex, many of them belong to those who followed Zhang Chun and Zhang Ju to rebel, and their sense of discipline and obedience are insufficient; The second is that the usual training is not hard and serious enough, and the training methods are also lacking, and many of them are useless showmen; Third, there is a lack of actual combat, and it is easy to panic and cowardice after engaging the enemy, and once the war is unfavorable or in a stalemate, it will break up and flee. ”

"I want to form a new army in Macheng, and the soldiers will be selected from the Han children who fled to Youzhou and Jizhou, and the soldiers will receive new teaching and training after enlistment, and use new weapons and equipment, what do you think?"

"I wonder how many new troops Gongzi is going to build?"

"Recruit 5,000 first, and then expand the recruitment according to actual needs after confirming that there is an effect."

"Childe, far water can't quench your thirst, I'm afraid that this new army won't be of much benefit to solving the current predicament."

"I know this, I regard the new army as a useful supplement to the existing troops, and after the consumption of more than 20,000 people in the battle is gradually reduced, the newly trained troops can be slowly replenished, and in three or two years, the overall combat strength of the troops will be greatly improved."

"Childe, if a new army is formed, Yun Yuan will be the commander!"

"Well, this one can't outrun you. We have to think of a way to drive Ke Bineng back to the northern grassland as soon as possible, otherwise everything we do will be clearly seen by Xianbei and Yan Rou, and we won't be able to get miraculous results at that time. ”

"Childe, I think if you can provoke Kebi to have a bad relationship with Yan Rou, or set a trap so that Kebi can fall into the scheme, or you can force him out of Youzhou."

"Be specific."

"For example, if we send a force to pretend to be Yan Rou's subordinates, cross the Danhan Mountain, and kill into the territory of several tribes under the command of Kebineng, once the news reaches Ningcheng, Kebineng will either rush back to help, or fight with Yan Rou, in short, it will not be harmful to us."

"That's a brilliant idea, but who to send?"

"Childe, I came up with this idea, so naturally I will lead the troops to go with my humble position."

"Hey, by the way, I suddenly remembered that Yan Zhi seems to have been caught by you in Macheng?"

"According to Master Taifu's wishes, he has already been sent to Yan Rou."

"Alas, what a pity! Otherwise, this time you take Yan Zhi to Kebineng's territory for a walk, and you can definitely make Kebineng and Yan Rou form a mortal enmity! ”

"Hehe, Childe still don't mention this matter in front of Master Taifu, otherwise he will teach you a lesson."

"Ahh Even this is a lesson? Daddy is too stubborn! ”

Liu He and Zhao Yun pondered how to calculate Kebi and Yan Rou in the cold winter night, although some ideas were just wishful thinking, but their understanding was the same, that is, if they wanted to solve the dilemma in Youzhou, the first thing to do was to solve the first of the "three troubles", that is, the "border trouble".

If the border troubles are not removed, the state will be restless. If Youzhou is not peaceful, the people will not be willing to engage in cultivation and production, and the output of grain and salt and iron will not be increased, and taxes will not be collected, and there will be no ability to expand arms and war; Without a strong enough army to rely on, it is impossible to eradicate the real threat of Gongsun Zhan, and it is even more powerless to get out of Youzhou and pacify the world.

Therefore, Liu He's first task when he came to Macheng was to eliminate or drive out of Youzhou as soon as possible!