Cao Zhang suppressed the excitement in his heart, turned his head to look at Ma Chao, and saw Ma Chao's face full of remorse and resentment.

"Brother Meng Qi, I agreed!" Cao Zhang put down the wooden gun in his hand and thanked Ma Chao.

Ma Chao just snorted coldly, but did not speak, turned around and waved his hand to signal his subordinates to retreat, and he went to the direction of the high platform alone.

Cao Zhang understood Ma Chao's mood at the moment, after all, for such a general who is known for his bravery, losing the gambling game is definitely a shame, especially on the premise that he finally did his best work.

At this time, Ma Chao must not be in the mood to listen to his polite words.

Cao Zhang didn't care too much, and turned his head to look at Li Jin: "Season, it's hard!" ”

Although it is just a faint sentence, the affection contained in the eyes cannot be replaced by a thousand words.

This time, it was Li Jin's performance at the critical moment that won him the victory.

Li Jin still didn't speak as usual, just responded with his fists on the horse, and his loyalty to Cao Zhang didn't need to be said.

"Take everyone to rest and tell them that when I go back, I will have a great reward!" Cao Zhang instructed Li Jin.

Li Jin nodded, waved his hand and beckoned the hundred-man escort team to gather and retreat to the other side of the high platform.

Cao Zhang's horse came to the high platform, turned over and dismounted, and climbed the high platform.

Ma Teng stepped forward quickly: "Cao Gongzi is really good, and the general will admire it." The results of today's gambling game have been clear, it is Cao Gongzi who won! ”

Ma Chao had already returned to Ma Teng's side, listening to Ma Teng announce the results, but his face was very unconvinced.

Ma Yunlu looked at the victorious Cao Zhang, but his face was unconcealably happy, Ma Chao was safe and sound, Cao Zhang's victory, this was completely a happy result.

"General Ma is polite, this is all Brother Meng Qi's mercy, he just took advantage of the martial arts, if it is a real battlefield fight, it is definitely not Brother Meng Qi's opponent." Cao Zhang responded modestly and tried his best to hand Ma Chao the steps.

Ma Teng said with a smile: "Cao Gongzi doesn't have to take care of the dog's face, if he loses, he loses." The last general will keep his word, and he will keep his promise. Come, prepare the incense case quickly, and welcome the holy decree! ”

This time, Ma Chao did not raise any objections, and Ma Teng's subordinates quickly prepared the incense case.

Ma's father and son knelt down, Zhong Xuan read out the holy decree, named Ma Teng as the history of Yongzhou Thorn, and Ma Teng received the holy decree after thanking.

"Young Master Cao, please rest assured, I will send someone to escort Zhong Shizhong to Jincheng County to see Han Sui, and personally write to Han Sui, and give up his old suspicions and reconcile. Ask him to accept the imperial court's recruitment, and send troops to recruit Li Dao together. At the same time, I will immediately allocate 20,000 soldiers and horses to return to Chang'an with my son and destroy the enemy together! Ma Teng solemnly made a promise to Cao Zhang.

"Thank you, General Ma, thank you below! Now that General Ma Teng has accepted Zhao'an, I believe that other princes will also respond. In the near future, we will definitely put down the rebellious Li Dao and restore the stability and prosperity of the people of Yongliang. Cao Zhang sincerely expressed his gratitude to Ma Teng, and the purpose of his trip was finally achieved.

"Gongzi Cao is polite." Ma Teng responded to Cao Zhang, and then beckoned to Ma Chao beside him, "Meng Qi, why don't you go and count the soldiers and horses, and go to Chang'an with Cao Gongzi!" ”

Ma Chao had a dissatisfied expression, he didn't admit defeat, he stared at Cao Zhang, and said loudly: "Master Cao, admit the gamble and admit defeat, I lost the bet, my father and I will keep our promises." But there is one thing I must say: I don't think you're better than me. Today's loss of the game was entirely the result of my underestimation. If we do fight on the battlefield, I definitely won't lose to you! ”

"Shut up!" Ma Teng scolded Ma Chao sharply.

"Meng Qi, how can there be so many rules on the battlefield, it is your own problem to underestimate the enemy, and you have not gone all out at once. It's a harsh reality that no one will show mercy to you because you underestimate your enemies. Think about it, if it is a real battlefield, when you rush into the battle formation single-handedly, will you have already died, will you still have the opportunity to say some unconvincing nonsense here!? Ma Teng admonished Ma Chao sternly.

Ma Chao was reprimanded by his father and lowered his head indignantly, he knew in his heart that what Ma Teng said was the truth, and he really couldn't blame others for this matter.

"Meng Qi, Cao Gongzi is far younger than you, but he can achieve both martial arts and strategy, and he can command such a wonderful battle formation flexibly, these are all places where you should humbly ask for advice and learn. My Ma family can't be a scoundrel! Victory and defeat are a common thing in soldiers, and you should reflect on it and learn from it. Only then can you be invincible on the battlefield! Ma Teng saw that Ma Chao was still unconvinced, and reminded him earnestly.

Ma Chao was dumbfounded by Ma Teng's words, he knew that he was at a loss, and he didn't want to argue anymore, so he could only respond stupidly: "What my father taught me is that the child remembers!" ”

Ma Chao's unconvinced appearance was all seen by Cao Zhang, and his heart began to calculate.

Although Ma Teng has suppressed Ma Chao now, he has also accepted the recruitment and sent troops.

But if the resentment in Ma Chao's heart is not lifted, it will always be accumulated in his heart, and it will always be a hidden danger.

What's more, Ma Chao's martial arts are comparable to Lu Bu, of course Cao Zhang hopes to subdue him and make him surrender to himself willingly, so he tries his best to open his heart knot, so that he can really close the relationship between the two and take Ma Chao for his own use.

"I was really lucky to win today's gambling match. Brother Meng Qi, then I want to ask, what do you have to do so that you can be truly convinced? Cao Zhang stepped forward and asked Ma Chao.

"You and me, a one-on-one competition, if you can beat me, I will obey you from the bottom of my heart!" Ma Chao has a hot temperament, and when he saw Cao Zhang's question, he directly put forward the conditions for the competition.

Cao Zhang heard that Ma Chao was going to compete with him, and he was also in his heart.

This is the Five Tiger Generals, his martial arts are comparable to Lu Bu, although he is young now and has not reached the peak of his force value, but just look at the martial arts he showed when he rushed to kill in the Mandarin Duck Formation today, it is already quite terrifying.

The victory just now relied on the strength of the collective, but now it is one-on-one, that is by real ability, and I am not sure of winning.

"Nonsense! Cao Gongzi's identity is so valuable, how can he compete with you?! What's more, now that the war ahead is urgent, how can there be time to delay here? Ma Teng's eyes immediately widened, wanting to stop Ma Chao.

"No, General Ma, anyway, it takes time to mobilize soldiers and horses, so I'll have the courage to compete with Brother Meng Qi!" Cao Zhang pondered for a moment, and finally made the decision to accept Ma Chao's challenge.

He didn't want to miss this opportunity to completely convince Ma Chao and subdue him; And as a man, he would rather be defeated than be cowardly before a fight, and escape directly, so how can he convince others in the future!

When Ma Chao heard Cao Zhang's promise to compete with him, he immediately showed an excited expression, stepped forward and grabbed Cao Zhang's arm: "Words count, let's compete now!" ”

"Cao Gongzi came from afar, and he fought fiercely for a long time just now, so he has to eat something, take a break and fight again!" Ma Yunlu saw that Ma Chao was about to make a move when he pulled Cao Zhang, and stepped forward to persuade him with some distress.

Ma Teng also reacted: "That's right, come on, prepare wine and dinner!" ”

Ma Chao let go of his hand a little embarrassed, and said to Cao Zhang: "Okay, let's eat first and then fight!" ”

Cao Zhang looked at Ma Chao and smiled, without saying anything.

After a while, the wine and rice were served, and the people began to eat and drink on the high platform.

Ma Chao was full of food and drink, and then waited anxiously for Cao Zhang to eat.

Cao Zhang ate the food in front of him slowly and methodically, but he was already beginning to calculate in his mind how to agree on the conditions of the competition with Ma Chao in order to win the battle.

After Cao Zhang finished eating and drinking, he took a short break before standing up and saying to Ma Chao: "Brother Meng Qi, please!" ”

Ma Chao stood up excitedly and was about to walk down the high platform.

Cao Zhang stopped him: "Brother Meng Qi, don't worry, let's talk about the content and conditions of the competition first." ”

"What are the contents and conditions of the competition? What tricks are you going to do? Ma Chao remembered the previous loss to Cao Zhang, and asked uneasily.

"For generals, horse combat, cavalry archery, and foot combat should all be integrated, and all of them are indispensable. Why don't we try these three in today's competition, and the one who wins two battles wins, what does Brother Meng Qi think? Cao Zhang proposed a way to compete with Ma Chao.

Ma Chao has full confidence in his horse battle, foot combat and mounted archery, and after listening to Cao Zhang's competition conditions, he immediately nodded: "Okay, just compare three!" You say, what do you compare first? ”

"Then let's first compare foot battles, then horse shooting, and finally horse battles, what does Brother Meng Qi think?" Cao Zhang proposed.

"It's up to you, I'm going to let you know how good I am this time!" Ma Chao responded confidently.

"Okay, Brother Meng Qi, in today's battle, you and I are just for learning, I hope that no matter whether we win or lose, we can not pay attention to the knot, and when we go to the battlefield in the future, we can share the same hatred and work together to exterminate the traitor Li Dao!" Cao Zhang deliberately said to Ma Chao with a bit of weakness.

"Of course, I, Ma Chao, will do what he says, since I promised to help you exterminate Li Dao, I will do my best, it has nothing to do with winning or losing today's competition!" Ma Chao patted his chest and responded.

Cao Zhang looked at Ma Chao's confident appearance and smiled faintly: "Brother Meng Qi, please!" ”

Ma Chao turned around and strode down the platform, Ma Yunlu chased after him uneasily, and whispered to him: "Big brother, in a while, you can win, but you can't hurt Cao Gongzi, he is my savior!" ”

"Don't worry, I know it in my heart, and I will stop at the point! Not only because of you, but in the future, we will have to deal with Li Dao side by side with him, and I will naturally not hurt him! Ma Chao also responded to Ma Yunlu in a low voice.

After Ma Chao finished speaking, he turned around and walked off the high platform, Ma Yunlu was a little relieved, and turned to look at Cao Zhang.

Ma Teng walked up to Cao Zhang uneasily, and whispered: "Young Master Cao, the dog is arrogant and brave, please be more careful when you compete in martial arts later!" ”

Cao Zhang nodded slightly: "Thank you General Ma for reminding me, I will be careful." ”

Cao Zhang looked at Li Jin behind him and waved his hand: "Season!" ”

Li Jin took a step forward knowingly, took off the Qingyu sword from his waist, and raised it in front of Cao Zhang......