On the candlestick in the tent, eight white candles are lit, and the flame of the white candles shines brightly on the tent, which is not very large.

Behind the low table in the tent sat a middle-aged general in his forties. This middle-aged general was very tall, and although he was kneeling behind a low table, he was not much different from an ordinary person standing.

"Father!" After entering the tent, the young general clasped his fists with both hands, bowed deeply, and greeted the middle-aged general.

As the flames on the white candle flickered, the candlelight that filled the tent fluttered slightly. The candlelight shone on the young general's face, and his face, which had not been seen in the darkness before, became much clearer.

The young general's eyebrows were thick and heavy, and his cheeks were as flat as a knife, giving him a sense of fortitude and bravery.

Although his face is resolute, the young general's skin is very smooth. Judging from his skin and the still clear eyes, he would never be more than seventeen years old.

The young general who entered the tent was none other than Ma Chao, who was powerful at a young age. Needless to say, the middle-aged general kneeling in the tent was his father Ma Teng.

"Meng Qi my son, sit!" The curtain was opened, and Ma Chao just greeted Ma Teng, who was looking at a dilapidated old book, raised his head, smiled at him, and greeted him.

"Thank you, father!" Clenched his fists and bowed, thanking Ma Teng, Ma Chao strode to the side, sat down on a straw mat on his side, and turned his head to look at Ma Teng.

"For my father, I was favored by the imperial court and garrisoned in Yuyi." When Ma Chao sat down, Ma Teng put the book in his hand on the table, pressed the book with both hands, and said to Ma Chao: "Now Li Dao and Guo Yan are in trouble with the dynasty, and we were born as Hanchen, so we should serve the imperial court, but we are just ......."

Ma Teng stopped talking halfway through his words, raised his eyes to look at Ma Chao, and showed a slightly embarrassed look on his face.

"The city of Chang'an is dangerous, our army is stationed outside the city, and there will be no food and grass for a long time!" Seeing the embarrassment on Ma Teng's face, Ma Chao frowned slightly, and said: "Why doesn't my father lead the army back to Yidi for the time being, and let Li Dao and Guo Yan fight, and wait until they are tired, and then it's not too late to make plans?" ”

"I'll wait!" Pressing his hand on the shabby book, Ma Teng frowned, shook his head slowly, sighed, and said to Ma Chao: "But Your Majesty is still in the hands of the two thieves, how can Your Majesty wait?" ”

From Ma Teng's expression, Ma Chao saw that he should have made a decision, lowered his eyelids, groaned slightly, and said to Ma Teng: "If the father has a plan, just tell the child, even if the child dies, he will definitely promote the father's decision!" ”

"I have Meng Qi, why not be afraid of the two thieves!" Before Ma Chao's words fell, Ma Teng stood up, walked quickly to Ma Chao, picked him up, the two of them held each other's arms, Ma Teng said to Ma Chao: "In Chang'an City, the thieves are strong, if Li Dao and Guo Yan stop fighting and lead the army out of the city to fight with us, my army is probably not an opponent......"

At this point, Ma Teng pondered slightly, and then said to Ma Chao: "Originally, my father planned to go to Luoyang and ask the king of Luoyang to send troops to help, but now that the king of Luoyang is in Youzhou, he is busy with the conquest of Gongsun Zhan, and he must have no time to look west." The only people who can ask for help at the moment are Huainan Yuan Shu and Yanzhou Cao Cao......"

"Father is going to ......" Ma Teng mentioned Yanzhou Cao Cao and Huainan Yuan Shu, Ma Chao said to Ma Teng with a trace of doubt on his face: "Not long ago, Sun Ce borrowed troops from Yuan Shu and sacrificed the jade seal that Sun Jian obtained from the dry well that day...... Yanzhou Cao Cao, now he is loyal to the Han family, but his soldiers are strong and strong, please come to help in the war, once there is a sudden change, I am afraid it will be difficult for us to match ......"

"I'm worried about my father!" Letting go of the hands holding Ma Chao's arms, Ma Teng sighed, turned around, put his hands behind his back, faced the white candle that was dancing with flames, and said after a while: "Yuan Shu wolf ambition, I'm afraid it can't be used." My son can go to Yanzhou, please Cao Gong send troops, if something really happens, I will wait to protect His Majesty and return to Xiliang! ”

"The child will go to Yanzhou early tomorrow morning!" Lowering his head and muttering for a moment, Ma Chao clasped his hands into fists and responded.

At this time, in the Luoyang military camp in Youzhou.

Liu Wei and Pang Tong stood side by side in the open space of the barracks, and the direction of the two of them was not to the east where Yuyang was located, but to the southwest where Chang'an was located.

"Your Highness is worried that Ma Teng will bring His Majesty to Luoyang?" The evening breeze with a slight chill swept past the two of them, lifting the ends of Liu Wei's sideburns, and just when he looked at the southwest with a little solemnity in his expression, Pang Tong, who was standing on the side, whispered to him.

"What does the advisor think this should do?" Frowning tightly and staring in the direction of Chang'an, Liu Wei was silent for a while before asking Pang Tong.

"In Chang'an City, Li Dao and Guo Yan attacked each other, and Ma Teng outside the city was eyeing each other. But if Ma Teng talks about force, he may not be the opponent of Li Dao and Guo Yan. Once he robbed His Majesty, he would definitely want to return to Xiliang, but how could Li Dao and Guo Yan let him leave with His Majesty? Going to Luoyang and seeking refuge from His Royal Highness is probably the only way out for Ma Teng and His Majesty! Lowering his eyelids, Pang Tong did not look at Liu Bian, but looked at the ground in front of him, and said with a little embarrassment in his tone: "I'm afraid Your Highness is going to choose between two evils!" ”

"What do you mean by that?" Turning his head to look at Pang Tong, the expression on Liu Bian's face became more and more confused, and he asked Pang Tong, "What are the two evils?" ”

"First, let His Majesty enter Luoyang today, whatever His Royal Highness does is to make wedding dresses for others! In the future, His Highness will lead the army to crusade against all kinds of rebellions, but His Majesty will sit back and enjoy the success, and wait until the world is unified, and then inflict poison on His Highness! Raising his head and facing Liu Wei's gaze, Pang Tong said with a very solemn face: "Second, support one side of the hero, and let the hero rob His Majesty, which can solve the current urgency, but it is only ...... in the future."

"How to support Haoxiong, the military advisor but it doesn't hurt!" Pang Tong stopped talking again, and Liu Wei hurriedly said to him: "As long as you can solve the current crisis, it is not too late to do it in the future!" ”

"Please Cao Cao send troops to Chang'an, where the Yanzhou army passes, the Luoyang army will give a supply!" A hint of hesitation flashed on his face, and Pang Tong said to Liu Wei: "Cao Cao is still loyal to the Han Dynasty at the moment, His Royal Highness asked him to send troops, and he is to rescue His Majesty today, he will definitely raise Yanzhou soldiers and horses to approach Chang'an." It's just that this person has the appearance of a hero, and now His Majesty is cowardly, I'm afraid he can't be suppressed, His Royal Highness's move is also for Cao Cao to coerce the Son of Heaven in the future to lay hidden worries for the princes! ”

"Who's going to be safe?" After listening to Pang Tong's analysis, Liu Wei almost didn't think about it, so he asked.

"Jia Xu is in Xindu right now, His Highness can send someone to give orders!" From Liu Wei's tone, Pang Tong heard that he had made a decision, and hurriedly clasped his fists and bowed down to him and said: "With Jia Xu's ability, His Highness only needs to let him go to Yanzhou and implore Cao Cao to send troops, he must know how to persuade Cao Cao!" ”

"Someone!" As soon as Pang Tong's words fell, Liu Wei turned his head and shouted to several pro-soldiers standing not far behind him.

When a personal soldier heard the shout, he hurriedly ran over and stood behind Liu Wei with his fists clenched.

"You set off immediately, and rush to Xindu in the starry night!" Turning his head to look at the pro-soldier, Liu Wei raised his hand and pointed at him, and said to him: "Tell Jia Xu that he wants him to go to Yanzhou immediately, and ask Cao Cao to send troops to Chang'an to rescue His Majesty from the hands of Li Dao and Guo Yan!" ”

"No!" With both hands clenched into fists, the soldiers bowed down in response, ignoring that it was almost late at night, and turned around and ran towards the place where the army was tied to the war horses.

It didn't take long for Liu Wei to hear a hurried sound of horses' hooves not far behind him, and a fast horse rushed out of the barracks like the wind and disappeared into the vast night.

Since ordering Jia Xu to rush to Yanzhou to persuade Cao Cao to send troops, in the next ten days, Liu Wei led the Luoyang army, all the way to attack the city, almost did not encounter much decent resistance, and occupied several cities in the southwest of Youzhou.

The Luoyang army advanced towards the hinterland of Youzhou, and after being ordered by Liu Wei, Jia Xu, who left Xindu and rushed to Yanzhou in the starry night, was already outside Puyang City.

Knowing that Jia Xu had arrived in Puyang, Cao Cao did not dare to slack off, and hurriedly went to meet him outside the city in person.

As soon as he arrived outside Puyang City, Jia Xu saw that on both sides of the city gate, two Yanzhou troops wearing dark blue robes and bright armor had already lined up to greet the VIPs.

In the middle of the two phalanxes, Cao Cao, dressed in a royal blue costume, with a group of Yanzhou strategists and generals, was waiting at the gate of the city.

Seeing that Jia Xu was escorted by a team of high-headed horses and the cavalry of the Luoyang Army in red robes like burning fire, Cao Cao led a group of Yanzhou officials and hurriedly greeted him.

"Zhonglang came from afar, it is really a great luck for Yanzhou!" Walking quickly to Jia Xu's horse, Cao Cao clasped his fists with both hands, and gave Jia Xu a deep bow to Jia Xu, who was still riding on horseback, first saluted Jia Xu, and then asked, "His Royal Highness the King of Luoyang is okay now?" ”

After all, Cao Cao is the prince who occupies Yanzhou and Hanoi, he made such a big gift, Jia Xu didn't dare to hold it up, hurriedly turned over and jumped off the horse, hugged his hands, bowed back to Cao Cao deeply, and when he got up, he said to Cao Cao: "Your Highness is well, if Your Highness knows that Ming Gong is so concerned, it must be Da'an in your heart!" ”

"His Royal Highness crusaded against Gongsun Zhan, a certain wanted to lead the army to march together, but the middle way of Zhicai collapsed, causing a certain to lose his arm, and no one presided over the affairs of the army, so he postponed the business!" Putting down his hands, Cao Cao had a smile on his face at first, and when he talked about Xi Zhicai, his expression revealed endless sadness, and after sighing, he stepped forward and grabbed Jia Xu's arm, and made a gesture of invitation to him with the other hand and said: "A certain person has ordered someone to prepare a banquet, Zhonglang please follow someone into the city to drink the banquet!" ”

"Thank you Ming Gong!" Hugged by Cao Cao, Jia Xu thanked Cao Cao and walked side by side towards the city gate with Cao Cao.

The officials who accompanied Cao Cao out of the city followed closely behind the two and entered Puyang City.

When he entered Puyang, Jia Xu found that on both sides of the streets in the city, every two or three steps, there would be a Yanzhou soldier with bright armor, holding a blade, standing on the side of the road.

Behind the Yanzhou army on the side of the road, many people in the city stretched their necks and looked at Cao Cao and others who were marching along the street.

The people in many places have an indelible fear of officials and the army, and Jia Xu has never seen the scene of the officials' honor guard when he goes out to watch the official's guard of honor, but he only had the opportunity to witness it when he followed Liu Wei into Luoyang.

Just witnessing such a scene, Jia Xu knew that Cao Cao was already popular in the Yanzhou area, and he couldn't help but secretly worry about Liu Wei's decision in his heart.

Holding Jia Xu, Cao Cao saw that there was a little worry in his expression, and with an indifferent smile on the corner of his mouth, he asked him: "Zhonglang came to Yanzhou from Xindu, presumably there is something important to look for, I don't know what is going on?" ”