The land of Guanzhong, Chang'an.

Chang'an is an ancient capital, from the important position in Guanzhong, since ancient times it is the place where soldiers must fight, and it is the gathering of merchants, water conservancy, and agricultural reclamation, its city is tall, densely populated, covers a wide area, and can be listed as the first in the entire Han Dynasty.

As the so-called "nine days to open the palace, all countries to worship the crown", Chang'an in its heyday of development has been acting as the center of the Oriental world, in the martial emperor Liu Che under Zhang Qian to open up the Silk Road as the starting point, has been the pearl of the city of the attitude to attract a large number of foreign envoys and worshippers.

Today, even if Chang'an is no longer the capital of the Han Dynasty, its influence and the foundation of the old times are still there, not to mention the breadth of its interior, just to say that the city is towering, it is by no means a small number of soldiers and horses and ordinary siege equipment can be beaten in.

At that time, Chang'an's Taishou was ordered by Cao Cao to lead Zhong Xuan in Guanzhong, and now, Zhong Xuan was captured by Yuan Shangsheng and imprisoned in Hebei to give birth to a child, but such a large city ancient array could not be guarded without henchmen, so Cao Cao sent his cronies Mao Jie to replace Zhong Xuan to guard the city, which has been used to deter the princes of Guanzhong.

Mao Jie, this person, there is no big problem, there are many advantages, and it is better to be a down-to-earth person, although it is not as talented as Zhong Xuan, and can clean up the princes of Guanzhong, but it is better to be diligent and diligent, hard-working, so it is also a prosperous place to govern Chang'an.

In the past three years, there has been no major accident in Chang'an, and Mao Jie has also turned his ears to what is happening outside the window, and is dedicated to governing Chang'an City. But until today, an outside visitor has broken this quiet peace, and this visitor is something that Mao Jie has to pay attention to.

This person is none other than Cai Yan, who came all the way.

When Cai Yan arrived in Chang'an City, there was a little episode, just because she did not come alone, but was protected by a group of soldiers and horses dressed like Qiang thieves, but it frightened Mao Jie. Thinking that it was Yuan Shang or the princes of Guanzhong, or a thief from somewhere, he almost didn't personally lead the troops out of Lu to suppress him, until a letter came from the other side, saying that it was Cai Yan who returned to his hometown to visit the house, so that Mao Jie temporarily put down the sword soldiers.

At that time, although Cai Yan took care of the Ancient Books Department for him in Yuan Shang's territory, he had never announced it to the public because of his special identity, only insiders knew about it, and he was brought out by Yuan Shang in the Xiongnu realm back then. Therefore, no one in the south has ever known the key, after confirming Cai Yan's true identity. Mao Jie thought she had escaped from the Huns.

Cai Yan is the daughter of Cai Yong, and she is famous as a talented woman, and her father has a half-teacher and half-friend friendship with Cao Cao.

Cai Yan is dusty, dressed in tattered clothes, and her face is haggard, although so, she still can't stop her natural beauty and feminine charm.

Mao Jie, please Cai Yan into the house. arranged a meal, and treated him as a guest, and then asked in detail: "Cai everyone, it is reported that you were poisoned by war outside Chang'an, and you were plundered by the Huns to the north, so far there is no news, I don't know why you suddenly returned to Chang'an today." But who will save him? ”

Cai Yan lowered his head when he heard this, and replied elegantly: "Qi Yu is too guarded, and the people's daughter is blessed, and he was captured by the Xiongnu Zuoxian Wang. For many years, he has been living outside the fortress, and has been living as a Han slave to this day, only a few years ago, Zuo Xian Wang was broken by Cao Sikong and Yuan's together, and the people were fortunate to get out of it, and for three years because they were alone, fear and chaos, they had to live in seclusion on the border all the time, waiting for the opportunity to return. ”

Mao Jie nodded abruptly when he heard this, and said, "Then I don't know how everyone Cai came back?" Who are the people who protected you back to Chang'an? ”

Cai Yan said: "Those people are the Qiang thieves on the border of Guanzhong, who have always made a living by robbing the rich. ”

Mao Jie nodded when he heard this, then beckoned, and said, "It is rumored that those Qiang righteous heroes will come up to meet you." ”

got the order of Mao Jie, but saw two majestic-looking men swaggering up to the mansion, both of them had beards and stubble, thick eyebrows and big eyes, but they were quite alien, and they were full of a heroic atmosphere that was difficult to hide.

Mao Jie looked at the two of them for a long time, and the apprehension in his heart was slightly lowered, and secretly said that what Cai Yan said was true, and then said: "Where did the two of you set up a village on the mountain, and today you have achieved this great achievement, and it is really a godsend to send everyone Cai back to Han, and this Taishou is here to really thank you........."

Before he finished speaking, he saw a man at the head of the group open his mouth and scolded and said: "Thank you or not, Cai Bucai, Lao Tzu sent her back, and it was money that rushed away!" This girl promised Lao Tzu that after returning to Chang'an, she should give a generous gift! You are a dry bird to eat, and you will thank Lao Tzu for her? ”

A man next to him also said, "What? Taking two sweet words is like perfunctory Lao Tzu? There are no doors! If you don't give money today! No matter what kind of Chang'an Taishou you are, Lao Tzu will have to smash your mansion gate if he dies! ”

Mao Jie was immediately angry when he heard this, and he wanted to attack when he took the case, but he saw Cai Yan hurriedly get up and said: "Taishou is angry, these two are reckless heroes, they don't know how to be polite, and please don't blame Taishou where the words collide, I just hope that Taishou can see that they are a little woman after all, don't be angry, and the people will thank you." ”

Mao Jie was stunned for a moment when he heard this, and then tried hard to suppress the anger in his heart, glared at the two fiercely, and turned his head to Cai Yan and said: "Although these two people have foul language, but after all, they are your benefactors of the Cai family, how can this Taishou deal with them at will, but since Cai everyone, since you promised them to promise gold leaf, I don't know how you plan to resist it?" ”

When Cai Yan heard this, he sighed sadly and said: "Things are people, there is nothing else at home, only the Jiaoweiqin that was kept in the cellar back then is still worth some money, and these two benevolent fathers should be promised as a reward." ”

Mao Jie was taken aback when he heard this, and hurriedly said: "Jiao Weiqin? To them? How can that work! Jiaowei Qin is the world's famous qin, in the past, when the qin was built, there was a person who burned the tung to plan, heard the sound of fire, knew its good wood and said, such a good treasure, how can it be given to these two reckless people? ”

Cai Yan shook his head and said, "Other than that, Yan really can't. ”

Mao Jie was stunned when he heard this, and he didn't know how to answer.

But at the bottom of the hall, one of the two leaders of the Qiang thieves glanced at Mao Jie, and said to him with a big grin.

"Since you feel so sorry for that broken piano, we brothers don't want it anyway... It's really not good, you put the money on this girl first? ”

Mao Jie: "................"

******************

Under Mao Jie's orders, Cai Yan was temporarily left in the pavilion to settle down, while the two Kou heads and a group of subordinates temporarily lived in Yingtun in the south of the city.

When they arrived at the tent in the camp, the two men finally looked at each other after making sure that there was no one on the left and right, and then exhaled heavily.

One of them tugged at the beard on his chin, gritted his teeth and said, "Damn, this one is frightened, but it's terrifying!" Yuan Shang's grandson found a good errand for Lao Tzu! ”

The one opposite him smiled and said in a low voice: "No way, who made you and I both from thieves back then, this kind of pretending to be a thief, if it falls on you and me, it won't be seen as flawed." ”

These two thieves are none other than the former Black Mountain thieves, Zhang Yan and Sun Qing.

Zhang Yan glanced out of the tent lightly, and said in a low voice: "Sima Yi used Cai Yan as a shield, and the strategy of letting you and me sneak into Chang'an is really good, Lao Tzu thought he was pure... It's really evil, that Mao Jie is also a dignified Chang'an Taishou, how can he attach so much importance to a girl, and treat the above guests as a gift? Just because he's a talented woman? ”

Sun lightly touched his chin and smiled: "The talented woman of the world, the people of the world should admire themselves, but there are still other twists and turns, it is reported that Cao Cao was Cai Yong's disciple in the past, and Cai Yan has a brother and sister friendship, that Mao has been with Cao Cao for a long time, naturally knows some information, how dare you slack off?" I thought he must want to ask Cao Cao for credit after settling Cai Yan! ”

Zhang Yan suddenly touched her chin when she heard this, and said, "I see, I didn't expect that Cai Yan's girl was not very old, and she was the same generation as Cao Cao...... Damn, wait! Cao Cao's old horseman, shouldn't he have a leg with Cai Yan? ”

"Yan Gongxiu wants to talk nonsense, I don't care that Cai Yan is also a self-purifying person, how could he do such a thing."

Zhang Yan nodded when he heard this, and said, "That's good, his mother's father-in-law Cai Yan is called the eldest aunt, if Cao Cao really has an affair with him, won't he become the lord's uncle?" Lao Tzu and the lord were friends in distress back then, and they were commensurate with brothers, if Cao Cao was the lord's uncle, wouldn't he also become Lao Tzu's uncle? ”

When Sun Qing heard this, he couldn't help but raise his hand to wipe his sweat, and said with a weak smile: "Yan Gong, you think too much........."

Zhang Yan smiled when she heard this, and then said, "When we came, the lord said when will we do it tonight?" ”

"Zi Shi!"

"Okay, just wait until the time! And then... Hey hey ......"

********************

In the middle of the night, Chang'an City was blinded by black lights, and only occasionally the lights were lit in the depths of a few wealthy houses. The huge city is like a tiger lying on the ground and waiting, and if it does not move, it will be frightened.

Behind the dirt slope less than a mile from the city, the soldiers of Yuan's army were waiting quietly under the leadership of Yuan Shang and Zhao Yun, and the horses were already muzzled, and the hooves of the horses were wrapped in cotton cloth. Quietly, only the sound of the night wind could be heard.

Looking at the magnificent Chang'an City in the distance, Yuan Shang couldn't help licking his lips greedily, and said with a smile: "Not bad, very good!" If this kind of city is taken, if Cao Cao and Ma Chao join forces, it will be a few more green onions, ginger and garlic, and with the power of our army and this strong city, it will definitely be able to block it all! ”

Zhao Yun glanced at Yuan Shang lightly with a blank expression, and said in a low voice: "I'm not interested in Chang'an City, but how strong and fat the cattle, sheep and horses in the city are, I would like to see it." ”

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